John Wesley Flowers

LANSING, MI – John Wesley Flowers, age 88, of Lansing, MI, and formerly of Winona, MS, passed away peacefully March 26, 2024, at Sparrow Health System.

John was born August 30, 1935, in Kilmichael, Montgomery County, Mississippi, the eldest of 14 children. He was raised by loving parents, John Wesley Flowers and Cora Flowers (Sanders). Here, he worked in the fields picking cotton, and later, in a sawmill cutting wood. It was in Kilmichael that he met his life-long love, Anneast Allen, eventually marrying on December 12, 1955. In 1967, shortly after the birth of their 7th child, they made the Great Migration North to Lansing, MI, in search of employment with fair wages, and a good education and better quality of life for their family. John’s first jobs were collecting trash and painting houses until he ultimately landed highly sought after work in the automotive industry at Oldsmobile (General Motors), working at plants in both Lansing and Flint.

“My Dad” or “my da” as he was lovingly referred to, took great pride in his work at Oldsmobile. He reveled in being called “Iron Man, hey Iron Man!” by friends and co-workers there, proudly showing off the strength of his biceps. Oftentimes, he would have arm wrestling matches with family members such as Howard Ware, whom the couple informally helped raise as their own along with Joe Flowers and countless others. From 1988 to 1991, he helped produce the Buick Reatta at the Reatta Craft Center in Lansing, the first locally hand-built vehicle. He also took great pride in being selected to train for work at Oldsmobile in California, bravely boarding his first airplane ever. His faith saw him through this, along with a little bit of blessed oil (and with his sweet tooth, most possibly a few glazed donuts and cookies!). It also deeply informed his values throughout most of his life.

Deacon Flowers was a pillar of Bethlehem Temple Church, embodying his belief in giving back to the community when he and Anneast hosted Bishop Alfred Singleton and his family upon arrival in Lansing. You could often find him on a ladder painting or counting attendance for service. He also provided security at church, and ushered church members in by flicking the light switch and announcing “The police is here! Everybody upstairs, service time!”. Young people of the time fondly recall being driven by him to Sunday School in the blue church van. He was additionally known for singing “Heaven is my goal” in a quartet, with rhythmic swinging of his arms and keeping beat with his leg. His love of quartet music began when he was a prayer leader at Mt. Zion Church in Mississippi.

John’s early experience in Mississippi during what he called the “hard years” cultivated within him a spirit of hard work, a commitment to community and justice, and a healthy dose of humor. The Flowers’ kitchen is renowned for laughter, the breaking of bread, and love abound. From stories of resistance with the “big man” at the plantation the couple farmed to waking his children up at 4 am to do the dishes if they were left unwashed, John took delight in making people laugh. Even an hour before he passed, he was telling jokes at the hospital and sharing “Your Granddaddy/Daddy sho’ loves you” and encouraging “You’re going to be alright”.

John loved all people regardless of their background, overflowing with love for friends and family members from all walks of life. He and Anneast cared for many family, friends, and community children as if they were their own. John leaves behind his 11 children to cherish his memory, Ruth (Willie) Minor, Mary Flowers, Patricia (Marty) Moore, John (Pamela) Flowers Jr., James (Alesia) “Bob” Flowers, Ricky (Mary) Flowers, Irving (Tamara) “Stanson” Flowers, Clarence “Vince” (Kim) Flowers, Gloria “Tina” (Terence) Fields, Shamar “Mark” Flowers, and Jecaro (Chimera) Flowers. Additionally cherishing him are 5 siblings, Archie Flowers, Leola McAbee (Flowers), Edward Flowers, Rosetta “Rose” Stokes (Flowers), and Jonathan “Joe” Flowers; 36 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and an abundance of brothers, sisters, other relatives and friends. John is preceded in death by his loving wife, Anneast Flowers, his parents, 4 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, and a host of siblings, brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, friends, and other loved ones.

The family would like to thank everyone – family members, friends, and neighbors – for the loving care given to John over the years, enabling him to live independently in the couple’s home purchased from the fruit of his diligent labor. In honor of Anneast, his only love, and to further his legacy of giving, they’d like to request donations to www.alz.org to help fight dementia and bring this and other brain diseases to an end. End of life arrangements have been entrusted to Gorsline-Runciman Tiffany Chapel of Lansing, MI.