Celebrating 28 Days of Black Excellence. Past and Present: Rev. Dr. J. H. Flakes Jr.

Throughout the month of February, The Courier Eco Latino honors Black History Month by spotlighting one local African American leader—past or present—each day. The series features trailblazers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and unsung heroes whose contributions have helped shape the soul, strength, and future of our community.

These are stories that may not always make headlines, but make a difference every day. From classrooms to boardrooms, from pulpits to protest lines, from small businesses to grassroots movements, each honoree reflects resilience, leadership, and service rooted right here at home.

For more than half a century, the Rev. Dr. J. H. Flakes Jr. stood at pulpits on both sides of the Chattahoochee River, shaping generations of worshippers, civic leaders and clergy through preaching, teaching and public service.

Dr. Flakes, Jan. 12, 1935 - Nov. 12, 2012, was born in the Pumpkin Bottom community of Phenix City, Alabama. His life’s work spanned 53 years as pastor of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Phenix City, Alabama, and 51 years at Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, where he later served as pastor emeritus.

A member of New Central Baptist Church in Phenix City, Dr. Flakes evolved into a multifaceted ministry leader — pastor, evangelist, lecturer, workshop presenter and soloist. Beyond the pulpit, he became known as a program developer and community strategist, helping design and evaluate faith-based initiatives aimed at strengthening families and neighborhoods.

Dr. Flakes earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from American Baptist College, where he also received an honorary doctorate. He later received an honorary doctorate from A.B. Lee Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida. His theological studies continued at the Morehouse School of Religion, through the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education in Houston and the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia in Rome.

His leadership extended far beyond local congregations. Dr. Flakes served as moderator of the East Alabama Missionary Baptist Progressive Association, chairman of the Board of Trustees at American Baptist College and chairman of One Columbus. He was a member and past president of the NAACP and held key roles within the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., and the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia. He also founded “A Call To Talk” (ACTT), an initiative designed to foster dialogue and spiritual accountability within communities.

Nationally and internationally, Dr. Flakes carried his ministry across continents, traveling to countries including the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, India, Egypt, Germany, Italy and several African nations. As chartering moderator of the National Baptist Association of Germany, he helped extend the reach of Black Baptist leadership beyond U.S. borders.

Throughout his career, he received numerous honors, including the Alpha Phi Alpha Martin Luther King Award, the Operation PUSH Martin Luther King Award and recognition as one of the Ten Outstanding Ministers in Georgia. Yet colleagues often noted that his greatest impact was not measured in plaques, but in people — the young ministers he mentored, the students he encouraged and the civic partnerships he forged.

In Columbus and Phenix City, Dr. Flakes’ legacy endures in sanctuaries he strengthened, institutions he guided and a cross-river ministry that modeled unity, scholarship and servant leadership.