John Henry "Jack" Yates (July 11, 1828 – December 22, 1897)  was born in 1828 to enslaved parents in Virginia, Yates acquired more knowledge than most youngsters in bondage. His mother, Rachel, was the main caregiver for her slave master's son after the mistress of the property died. He grew up to work on the farm, but was allowed to keep the money he made from fishing. He also attended religious gatherings there organized by enslaved people.

Yates married a woman named Harriet on a neighboring farm. When her master moved to a Matagorda County plantation in Texas around 1863 to avoid emancipation and continue as a slaveholder, Yates made an unbelievable decision. He had been freed in Virginia, but his wife's slave master was not going to free his slaves, so in order for him to maintain and be with his family, he had to go back into slavery to come with them into Texas. As a "Man of Integrity" and the love for his family, Yates gave up his freedom because he wanted to be able to take care of his wife and children.

In June 1865, Yates moved to Houston, where he worked hauling freight. He was a freedman, minister, educator and community leader in Houston, Texas. He was ordained as a Baptist minister and was the founding pastor of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

Yates later purchased property in Houston Freedmen's Town area of Fourth Ward. Yates was ordained as a minister who became the first Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, founded in 1866. The church was Houston's first African-American Baptist Church. 

He wanted the congregation to have a place to worship and led the charge to move them from a "brush arbor" on the bayou banks to their own building, then into a sturdier structure that still stands today on Clay Street. Yates also established Houston Academy, a school for African-American children.

Under Yates leadership, members of Antioch and Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church (now Trinity United Methodist Church) purchased Emancipation Park in 1872 as a place for the black community to have a park of their own; June 19, known as Juneteenth is celebrated annually at Emancipation Park (also known as EP to its community) located at 3018 Emancipation Ave, Houston, TX 77004.

In 1879, Rev. James Harvey Makey (1849-1915) called neighbors to his home to form the Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church. Makey, a member of Antioch Baptist Church, found guidance from his pastor, the noted Rev. John Henry "Jack" Yates as they formed their church. Yates is known as a founder of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church at 2201 Tuam St. Houston, TX 77004 (Houston's Third Ward).

In 1891, Yates left the Antioch and founded Bethel Baptist Church. He founded College Park Cemetery, which facilitated the burials of freed-persons and other African Americans to date.

Yates died on December 22, 1897. Jack Yates High School in Houston, TX was named in his honor. He was first buried at Olivewood Cemetery, but later reinterred at College Park Cemetery. The 1870 Jack Yates House is located at Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston and it was opened to the public on Wednesday December 11, 1996. Yates built and designed this house himself. This is his History, Pride and Legacy of Jack Yates High School and its Alumni. OUR HISTORY | HIS LEGACY #JY4Life