Bobby Joel Flake, 70, passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Baptist Memorial Hospital, Columbus, MS. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Cockrell Funeral Home in Macon, MS. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Saturday, from 10- 11 a.m. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.
Bobby Joel Flake was born on November 19, 1952, to the Bobby Olen and Eddie Lee White Flake in Winston County, MS. He graduated from Noxapater High School where he received a football scholarship to play at Mississippi State University. Due to the untimely death of his father, Bobby Joel had to return home to help his mother with his siblings.
Bobby Joel served as a policeman in the Columbus area for a period of time. He worked several jobs after that having worked for Pepsi Cola driving a delivery truck and as an EMT for a short time. Bobby Joel retired recently after thirty years’ service from International Paper as the chief of security. Bobby Joel was talented poet. He won many Golden Poet awards during his life having been published in the World’s Greatest Poet Book. He was a member of Concord Baptist Church and in his spare time he enjoyed fishing and hunting. Although he attended Mississippi State, he was a diehard Ole Miss fan.
Bobby Joel was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Paul Sterling Flake and James Michael Flake
Bobby Joel was survived by his fiancé, Lisa Peeler of Ashland, MS, daughter, Adella Flake of Macon, MS. Two sons, Eric Flake (Amber) of Walls, MS, and Robert Flake (Amanda) of Coldwater, MS; sister, Debbie Miles of Philadelphia, MS; two brothers, David Flake and Steve Flake of Philadelphia, MS.; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.