John Arvington Flowers

John Arvington Flowers, 92, passed away Friday, December 30, 2022 at home under the care of his loving family and Affinis Hospice.

A native and lifelong resident of Wayne County, John was born on September 25, 1930 to the late Sumpter Mann Flowers and Effie Leona Trowell Flowers Waldron.  He graduated from Odum High School in 1947 and worked as a highway engineer for more than 30 years with the Georgia Department of Transportation. John was well known for being called “my honey” by his wife of 68 years, and for his strong work ethic, which was second to none. He was a loving father and faithful provider for his family. In addition to his duties with the DOT, he farmed on the side working countless hours raising crops of all kinds including pecan trees. blueberries, soybeans, corn, tobacco, and cotton  He was a long time member of Odum Baptist Church and was heavily involved in the Wayne County Young Farmers Association.  John loved his community and gave back by serving on the Odum City Council for 18 years and served 4 years on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners.  He was even elected Mayor of Odum, but could not serve due to a technicality with state law due to his employment with the GADOT. He enjoyed coffee shop visits and good jokes with his fellow Liars Club members and went fishing in his spare time.  He could play music by ear and enjoyed playing gospel songs on the mandolin and the piano. He encouraged and mentored several friends by financially supporting their efforts to start local businesses.

In addition to his parents, those who have preceded him in death are his stepmother, Johnnie Withrow Flowers; brother, Sumpter “Red” Flowers; step-brothers, Douglas Crawford, Mickey Gignilliat, and David Waldron; and step-sister Sharon Waldron Myers; son-in-law, Bryant Arrington; surrogate sons Samuel “Sambo” Carr, Roger Carr, Ernest Carr; surrogate daughter Myrtle “Duck” Carr Ingram; brothers and sistersin-law Mr. and Mrs. Harold O. King, Mr. and Mrs. Basil King, Mr. and Mrs. Levon King, Ben King, and Wanda Flowers.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Leola King Flowers of Odum; daughter, Sherena Flowers Arrington of St. Simons Island; brother, Rickey Flowers of Odum; step-sisters Francis Rigdon of Odum, Margaret Gignilliat of Odum, and Loann Waldron Lane of Jesup; step-brother Donald Waldron of Screven;  sister-in-law Betty King of Dallas, TX, surrogate daughters Lottie Carr Strachan of Miami, FL,  and Sarah Louise Carr Savage of Tampa, FL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members also survive, one of whom he also nurtured as a son, Shawn Flowers of Odum.

Visitation will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at Howard & Jones Funeral Home in Jesup with a memorial service immediately following at 3:00 p.m.  Retired pastor Dwain Harper and pastor Gerald Greenlee of O’Quinn Baptist will conduct the service. Those attending the memorial will also have an opportunity to share remembrances.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Liars Club. Private interment services will take place in Odum City Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Arvington Flowers, please visit our floral store.