Geraldine Joan Flynt
Geraldine Joan Flynt, 82, passed away peacefully in her sleep in Ennis, Texas, on Sunday, April 23, 2023. Joan was born in Austin, Texas on March 17, 1941, to Cecil Pierce and Lora Lee Purcell Culpepper. Geraldine Joan and her twin brother, Gerald Gene “Johnny” come from a long line of twins. Their mother, Lora Lee had an identical twin sister, Laura Mae. Lora and Laura had a set of twin brothers, Wilbert Levi “Will” and Charles Albion Purcell, and their father, James Albert Purcell had a twin brother, also named Charles Albion Purcell. Joan was also the mother of twin boys, Robbie Wayne and Robert Layne and she had twin nephews, Kevin Dwain and Erik Shane Culpepper.
Joan’s family moved to Ennis, Texas when she was a child. She was raised in Ennis and graduated from Ennis High School in 1959. During high school, she met the love of her life, Robbie Don Flynt. They married the year after graduation, on September 2, 1960 and made their home in Ennis. Joan went to beauty college to become a hairdresser and enjoyed fixing hair at Murphy’s Beauty Shop. Don and Joan had three children, who were each loved and cherished.
The family attended Sunday school and church together faithfully. When they went on vacation they went to church, so that the kids would not miss out on their perfect attendance awards! Joan loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so much!
Music was a huge part of Joan’s life. She grew up in a family that sang and played many instruments, including the piano, organ, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin. She could play piano a little, by ear. She always wished she’d learned to play the piano better. She could sing beautifully and used that talent her whole life to give glory to God. She was part of The Messengers, a singing trio, with her sister Margie and Duane Shaw. Joan and Margie could harmonize like nobody’s business! She loved singing with her daughter, Ginger, too.
If you went to her house, you’d find music playing in the kitchen, bathroom, and on the TV in the living room. She’d have the Gaither’s singing on her boom box while she made a pound cake from her mother’s recipe. Their pound cakes were absolutely delicious and were so very good served still warm, with butter on top! Joan taught Sunday school to children for many years. Each year at Christmas, she would bring a birthday cake for her class to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They would sing the happy birthday song to Him. Joan wrote on her calendars and in her Bible, noting special events that had occurred. One such note told us that Robert, Shannon, and Colton played Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus for her Sunday School class once! She loved doing things to serve the Lord and His people.
Geraldine Joan Flynt, 82, passed away peacefully in her sleep in Ennis, Texas, on Sunday, April 23, 2023. Joan was born in Austin, Texas on March 17, 1941, to Cecil Pierce and Lora Lee Purcell Culpepper.
Geraldine Joan and her twin brother, Gerald Gene “Johnny” come from a long line of twins. Their mother, Lora Lee had an identical twin sister, Laura Mae. Lora and Laura had a set of twin brothers, Wilbert Levi “Will” and Charles Albion Purcell, and their father, James Albert Purcell had a twin brother, also named Charles Albion Purcell. Joan was also the mother of twin boys, Robbie Wayne and Robert Layne and she had twin nephews, Kevin Dwain and Erik Shane Culpepper.
Joan’s family moved to Ennis, Texas when she was a child. She was raised in Ennis and graduated from Ennis High School in 1959. During high school, she met the love of her life, Robbie Don Flynt. They married the year after graduation, on September 2, 1960 and made their home in Ennis. Joan went to beauty college to become a hairdresser and enjoyed fixing hair at Murphy’s Beauty Shop. Don and Joan had three children, who were each loved and cherished.
The family attended Sunday school and church together faithfully. When they went on vacation they went to church, so that the kids would not miss out on their perfect attendance awards! Joan loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so much!
Music was a huge part of Joan’s life. She grew up in a family that sang and played many instruments, including the piano, organ, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin. She could play piano a little, by ear. She always wished she’d learned to play the piano better. She could sing beautifully and used that talent her whole life to give glory to God. She was part of The Messengers, a singing trio, with her sister Margie and Duane Shaw. Joan and Margie could harmonize like nobody’s business! She loved singing with her daughter, Ginger, too.
If you went to her house, you’d find music playing in the kitchen, bathroom, and on the TV in the living room. She’d have the Gaither’s singing on her boom box while she made a pound cake from her mother’s recipe. Their pound cakes were absolutely delicious and were so very good served still warm, with butter on top! Joan taught Sunday school to children for many years. Each year at Christmas, she would bring a birthday cake for her class to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They would sing the happy birthday song to Him. Joan wrote on her calendars and in her Bible, noting special events that had occurred. One such note told us that Robert, Shannon, and Colton played Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus for her Sunday School class once! She loved doing things to serve the Lord and His people.
Over the years, she worked outside of the home at Safeway, Ennis Business Forms, Tropar Trophy, as a dental assistant for Dr.Treadaway, and at a Christian bookstore.
Her favorite place to be was with her family. Joan was the best Momma ever, always going above and beyond to make sure her kids did well with school events and projects. She was an absolutely wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, who referred to herself as “THE Mawmaw.” She loved helping her family in whatever way possible. Every time you spoke to her, she’d ask, “what can I do to help you” or “what can I do for you?” She would finish each conversation with a sentimental “love you more!” She loved her grandchildren and loved spoiling them rotten!
Joan and Don loved to travel. They loved attending Christian concerts and Robbie loved to go with them. They worked with the JOY Group and took their beloved “old people” on many trips, including one to Yellowstone. Some of the “Just Older Youth” had never been outside of Texas. The grandkid spoiling was put on hold at least once a year in September, when Joan and Don went to Colorado to see the fall colors. Joan used to say that when the aspen leaves were turning, they made the mountainsides look like patchwork quilts.
She loved growing flowers and was especially proud of the beautiful moonflowers that grew outside her bedroom window. As part of the last service she was able to do for the Lord, she planted flowers in one of the flowerbeds at Anthony Drive Baptist Church. She’d keep gallon jugs of water in her car to use to water the flowers she’d planted at the church. She ministered to others with a kind word or an uplifting song or prayer nearly every day in her latter years.
After Don passed away in 2013, Joan began saying she was ready to go home to be with the Lord. We know that she is now in Heaven with the Lord, pain free, whole in mind and body, and praising Her Savior with her beautiful voice. Mawmaw, we love you more and will see you again someday soon!
Joan is preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, Robbie Don Flynt, her son Robert Layne Flynt, her beloved parents, sister Margie Von Wolfe, and twin brother, Gerald Gene “Johnny” Culpepper.
She is survived by her daughter, Virginia LeAnn (Ginger) Richardson and her husband, Mark, son, Robbie Wayne Flynt, and brother, Cecil Dwain Culpepper and his wife Teresa. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Rebekah Von Richardson Bibb and her husband Steve, Jacob Paul Richardson and his wife, Melissa, Ethan Wayne Flynt, Colton Joshua Flynt, Carly Jo Flynt, and Sarah Elizabeth Flynt. In addition, she is survived by three great grandchildren, Michael Lukas Bibb, Jaiden Mark Bibb, Daniel Jacob Richardson, and two step-great grandchildren, Josh Bibb and his wife Dixie, and Matthew Bibb, numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family would like to express our thanks and gratitude to Renee Potter, Linda Treadaway, and employees of Ennis Care Center and Traditions Hospice for their kindness and compassion towards our beloved Mother and Mawmaw over the last several years.
Visitation was held at J.E. Keever Mortuary on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The celebration of Joan’s life was held at J.E. Keever Mortuary on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Mark Richardson and Rev. Matt Walker officiating. Pallbearers were Jacob Richardson, Ethan Flynt, Colton Flynt, Steve Bibb, Jason Wolfe, and Erik Culpepper. Internment followed at Elm Branch Cemetery in Bardwell, Texas under the direction of J. E. Keever Mortuary, Inc.
