Dr. J. H. Flakes, Jr., 77, of Columbus, GA passed Monday, November 12, 2012 at St. Francis Hospital, Columbus, GA.

Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. EST Friday, November 16, 2012 at Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church, 222 Fifth Street, Columbus, GA with Rev. Johnny Flakes III, pastor and Dr. Julius Scruggs, President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, eulogist. Entombment will follow in Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.

Viewing and visitation will be held at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 5230 Lee Road 240 (Old Auburn Rd), Phenix City, AL from 12:00 noon EST Thursday, November 15, 2012 until 8:00 a.m. EST Friday, November 16, 2012. A Family Hour is 5:30 p.m. EST Thursday, November 15, 2012 at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church according to Taylor Funeral Home, Inc.

Dr. Flakes was born January 12, 1935 in Phenix City, (Pumkin Bottom) AL to the late Eugenia Turpin and the late Rev. J. H. Flakes, Sr. He was also the stepson of the late “Mama” Jessie Flakes.

He was a member of New Central Baptist Church in Phenix City, AL. He was a pastor, evangelist, teacher, lecturer, workshop presenter, program developer, program implementer, program evaluator and a soloist.

Dr. Flakes was the pastor of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church where he had served for 53 years and he was pastor emeritus of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church where he served for 51 years.

Dr. Flakes received an honorary doctorate degree from A.B. Lee Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, FL and an honorary doctorate degree from American Baptist College in Nashville, TN. He also received his Bachelor of Arts degree from American Baptist College. Dr. Flakes continued his biblical studies at Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, GA; the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education in Houston, TX and the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia in Rome, GA.

Dr. Flakes was the benefactor of numerous awards and recognitions. A few of the selected Awards are, Outstanding Personality of the South, Ten Outstanding Ministers in the State of Georgia, the Alpha Phi Alpha Martin Luther King Award, Operation PUSH Martin Luther King Award as well as the Knighthood Award from the Congress of Christian Education.

Some of his service oriented affiliations include Moderator of the East Alabama Missionary Baptist Progressive Association, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of American Baptist College in Nashville, TN, Chairman of One Columbus, member and past president of the NAACP, past president of the General Missionary Baptist Congress of Christian Education of the State of Georgia, President and founder of “A Call To Talk” (ACTT), chartering moderator of the National Baptist Association of Germany, member of the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., member of National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, member of General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia and numerous others.

Dr. Flakes traveled extensively in the United States and abroad. His foreign travels included the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, India, Egypt, the Soviet Union, Africa, Germany, Italy and the Holy Land.

Those who will forever cherish his memories are his wife of 58 years, Robena Gaines Flakes; two sons, Rev. Johnny (Jacqueline) Flakes III of Columbus, GA and Merle (Lillian) Flakes of Dallas, TX; one daughter, Sencira Flakes Williams of Atlanta, GA; one brother, Rev. John (Joan) Samuel of Phenix City, AL; one sister, Elizabeth Gary of Detroit, MI; one grandson, Kevin Scott of Columbus, GA; three granddaughters, Braya Flakes of Columbus, GA, Christina Flakes and Catherine Flakes both of Dallas, TX; a host of nieces, nephews, church families of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church and Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church and a host of other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations are to be made to the J. H. Flakes, Jr.,

Memorial Fund to be used for scholarships and support of the Fourth Street Daycare Academy. More information will be provided at a later date. Please visit www.thetaylorfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest registry.