Reverend Dr. Johnny H. Flakes III is the second child of three siblings, born to the late Rev. Dr. and Dr. J.H. Flakes, Jr. He is married to the lovely Dr. Jacqueline Denise Flakes, and they are the proud parents of two children: a daughter, Braya, and a son, Kevin.

Educationally, Reverend Flakes received his elementary and high school education from the Muscogee County School System. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama; his Master’s degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City; his Master of Divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, Georgia; and his Doctorate of Ministry from Mercer University McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned distinction as one of twenty-one students nominated by the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse School of Religion, for inclusion in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities across the United States.

Before becoming Senior Pastor of the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend Flakes served as Pastor of the Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church (S.E.) in Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, he served as Co-Pastor of both Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia, and Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Phenix City, Alabama.

Reverend Flakes’ ministerial and civic affiliations include serving as Moderator of the Mount Calvary Baptist Association; 1st Vice President of the General Missionary Baptist Congress of Christian Education; First Vice President of the Fifth District of the Congress of Christian Education; Chairman of the Publicity Committee for the 2005 National Baptist Convention U.S.A., Inc., GMBC Host Committee in Atlanta, Georgia; and Vice President of the East Alabama Association of Congress Christian Education. He also served as President of the Mount Calvary Association Congress of Christian Education, President of the Muscogee County Clergy Association, Board Member of the Enrichment Service Program of Columbus, Georgia, and on the Board of the Columbus Regional Foundation.

His continued service includes advisory and leadership roles such as membership on the “Right from the Start” Marriage Initiative Advisory Board–Pastoral Institute; Secretary of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA); Assistant Dean of the Congress of Christian Education of the State of Georgia; Chair of the Social Action Committee of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance; membership on the Turner Ministry Resource Center Advisory Board–Pastoral Institute; the Valley Healthcare Board; the Board of Historic Columbus; and the Mayor’s Advisory Council for Diversity, Prosperity, and Unity.

Presently, Reverend Flakes serves as a member of the John Amos Cancer Center Advisory Board and holds athletic honors as a Tuskegee University Athletic Football Hall of Fame Inductee (Class of 2011). He is also recognized as Tuskegee University’s All-Time Return Specialist (1974–1977) and holder of the school’s Longest Kickoff Return (1977).

His current positions include: President of the General Missionary Baptist Congress of Christian Education of Georgia, Faculty Member of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Southeast Regional Vice President of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, Southeast Regional Coordinator for the National Baptist Convention Sunday School Publishing Board, and member of the American Baptist College Board of Trustees. He also serves as Chair of the Board for Fourth Street Towers, a 501(c)(3) affordable housing organization, and Chair of the Board for Fourth Street Daycare and Academy. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and the Columbus Georgia Downtown Rotary.

Reverend Flakes has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Dr. Henry Cook Social Action Award (2025), Columbus Masked Award (2025), Resolution from Representative Carolyn Hugley (2024), Rotary Club International Paul Harris Fellow, Congressional Record Commendation (2023), Lift Him Up Award (2023), and the Columbus Police Department Appreciation (2017).

But more importantly, Reverend Flakes serves as the Senior Pastor of the Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church, where his father, the Rev. Dr. J.H. Flakes, Jr., served as pastor for fifty (50) years. Reverend J.H. Flakes III is a doctrinal teacher and preacher of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.

A Servant of God.