Herman Flowers

Herman Sidney Flowers, age 88 years of Niles, Michigan; husband, father, grandfather, Baptist, Freemason, and Veteran died peacefully at 2:17 a.m. on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, with his family gathered at his bedside at Wellbrooke of South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.   

He was born on September 27, 1935, in East Chicago, Indiana to Samuel and Mae (Booker) Flowers, and began his education in the East Chicago schools.  He enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict, but served stateside, completing his GED, and achieving proficiencies in several basic Air Force skills.  He was discharged from the Eglin Air Force Base in the panhandle of Florida and returned to East Chicago.  He moved to South Bend and was employed at the former Carborundum Fibers plant in New Carlisle, Indiana and its successor, Unifrax for more than 20 years.  He moved to Niles in 1991.  

Herman was raised in the Baptist Church but has been attending Franklin AME Church in Niles.  He was a member of the John W. Moore Lodge #42 of the Prince Hall Affiliation of Freemasons in Niles, and the Al Zabir Temple #81 of the Prince Hall Shriners in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  

At home, Herman had a reputation as Mr. Fix-it; ready and willing to take on ALL home repairs!  He also was known as a backyard grill-master, who would grill a wide variety of food with pleasing results.  He enjoyed dancing; but his greatest joy was his family.  

On June 4, 1991, he married the former Patricia Ann (Stevenson) Larson at the Berrien County Courthouse in Niles, Michigan.  Herman and Pat celebrated last year the thirty-second anniversary of their wedding.  

He was sadly preceded in death by two children, Jack Flowers and Patrice Flowers; by two grandchildren, Preston Flowers and Marcus Flowers; and by eight siblings, Benjamin, Samuel (who also has a twin sister who preceded them in death), John, Hershel, James, Louise, and Edith.  

Surviving family includes his wife Patricia Flowers, and their children, Robert (& Uronda) Flowers of South Bend, Rochelle Flowers of South Bend, Latonja (& William) Gary of Tema, Ghana, Patrice (& Derrick) Garrick of Opelousas, Louisiana, and Melanie (& Kerr) Alexander of Niles; grandchildren Lorenzo Davis, LaToya Steward, Robert “Little” Flowers, Jr., TaRobyn Flowers, Tionda Flowers, William Gary, Lady Commer-Samuels, Jynsen Gary-Henry, Malik Garrick, Makhi Garrick, Michael Chester, Jr., Malachi Burris, Jada Griffin, Patricia “Tee” Pool, and Lawrence “Lloyd” Thomas; many, many great-grandchildren; six sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law; a host of nieces and nephews; and a great circle of wonderful friends including Cathy Harris. 

The memorial service for Herman Flowers will be on March 8, 2024 at 11:00AM at the Franklin AME Church and will include the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the Unites States Air Force Honor Guard. Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online memories may be left at: 

www.halbritterwickens.com 

Herman’s eighty-eight years clearly exceeded the Biblical promise of seventy, or by reason of strength, eighty; and he used those years well, in military service, in civilian life as a productive employee, and at church and the lodge.  More importantly, he cared for neighbors and friends with his repairs and meals from the grill; and loved his family, especially Pat; smiling and dancing through the years, and fulfilling the command to love God and love people.