Charles Jerry Flake, Sr.

Charles Jerry Flake, Sr., of Leesville, has left behind the worries of this world and is walking around in Heaven telling jokes and finding someone he knows at every corner. He was born June 2, 1939, in Columbia, SC and passed away on October 26, 2021 surrounded by his family.

He was the youngest son of the late Jackson L. Flake Sr. and Lillian Zeigler Flake. Lillian (Mamoo) introduced her son to a beautiful student nurse named Lois Hollifield, and their love began. Jerry and Lois were married June 12, 1960 and celebrated their 61st Anniversary this year. Jerry and Lois had three children, Lillian “Rebecca”, Charles, Jr. “Charlie” and Holly. Louise was added to their family, as well as many other bonus children along the way.

Jerry served in the US Army beginning in 1960 and continued to serve in the Army Reserve until his retirement. He retired as a Master Sergeant from the 120th Army Reserve Command at Fort Jackson, SC after also serving as a Drill Sergeant in the 108th Training Command at Fort Jackson. He graduated from the University of South Carolina College of Nursing in 1974 and worked for the SC Department of Corrections until he retired after 25 years of service. At the time Daddy graduated from college, it was very uncommon for men to choose nursing as a career. He never liked the term “male nurse” and would always respond, “No, I take care of women too.” He was a competent and compassionate nurse who spent his career caring for prison inmates who could be considered the worst or lowest of society. But he was the kind of nurse who would take off his gloves to provide a warm, human touch to an inmate dying of AIDS when everyone else was afraid to even stand close by.

He was intelligent, and could converse on any topic. We always said that he and his sister Sandra had cornered the market on knowledge in the Western Hemisphere. He was a member of the Archeological Society and even in his last weeks, he could still identify the origins of arrowheads in his collection. He was an excellent hunter and fisherman and taught us all to enjoy the beauty and wonder of the world God created.

Jerry was a member of Beulah Baptist Church in Leesville, SC. His faith in Jesus Christ was evident in the way he lived his life and raised his children. He served faithfully and quietly in each of the churches that he and Lois attended throughout their life together. He taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, led youth groups—whatever was needed at any given time. He loved freely and unconditionally, and taught us to do the same. There was always enough love and enough room in our family for one more person. Jerry and Lois had a gift of hospitality and hosted many missionaries and their families in their home. We grew to love all of those families as our own. They opened their homes at 112 Normandy Road and Golden Pond, and countless people enjoyed the comfort of those homes.

His life can be summed up by the words of the prophet Micah.

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
--Micah 6:8

Daddy was a just and fair man. He was the kindest man we have ever known. And he personified humility as he lived out his faith for his 82 years.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lois Hollifield Flake; children, Rebecca F. Whalen (John), Charlie Flake (Joy), Louise Lever (Bryan), Holly Sox (Mike); grandchildren, Eddie Sharpe (Amanda), Valerie Gilham (Mike), Chuck Flake (Shauntay), Chris Flake (Jordan), Neci Goodnite (Kyle), Breck Whalen, Cody Flake, Shannon Whalen (Fiance Rodney Barnes), Robert Whalen, Michael Sox (Fiancee’ Rachael Lolar), Nathan Flake, Ryan Whalen, Kyle Whalen, Jacob Flake and Julia Flake; and great grandchildren, Gage and Leland Sharpe, Thailer and Seth Gilham, Marshall and Emmalyn Goodnite, Shawn Litton, Patrick and Ethan Flake, Sadie and Jackson Flake. He is also survived by a brother, Jackson L. “Chippy” Flake (Lucie); and bonus children, Willie Sharpe (Lori Lanham), Joel Priest. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Sarette Fender and Sandra Kitching.

A memorial service will be held at 6:30 P.M. Friday, October 29th at Beulah Baptist Church. The Rev. Frank Longshore will officiate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Lexington Medical Center and NHC Lexington who made it possible for us to have 5 more wonderful months with Daddy, Lashonda and Chris from Neighborhood Nurse, Abbey Road Hospice including Dawn Bass who cared so tenderly for him in the last days, and the Gilbert Fire Department who were regularly dispatched to help us get Daddy up off the floor and never ever complained.