The Georgia Funeral Director’s Association 2022 has awarded Flanders Powell Funeral Home owner Tommy Flanders the 2022 President’s Award for his work in the funeral profession and his service to the community.
“I’m honored to receive it,” Flanders said. “I’m humbled to receive it from my best friend in this business.” Flanders is referring to Rob Roberson, owner of Shephard Roberson Funeral Home in Folkston and the GFDA 2021-2022 past president. “Tommy and I bought our funeral homes the same day, and he’s been one of the guys I’ve leaned on since,” Roberson said.
He recalled going to lunch with Flanders in Pembroke recently.
“It seemed like we were there for 30 minutes before we could sit down and eat, because everybody wanted to talk to him and shake hands with him. It’s that way with everybody. Tommy’s got that gift.”
Roberson said when the April tornado tore through downtown Pembroke and did massive damage to Flanders Powell Funeral Home, Flanders “worked through the night even though he knew his funeral home had been destroyed.”
“He was busy making sure everybody else is OK,” Roberson said. “But when you get down and call on Tommy to lean on, his shoulder’s have always been big enough. But he’s always the same person with everyone. He doesn’t put on airs.”
Flanders, who serves as a deputy coroner and was named the 2019 Deputy Coroner of the Year, spent Monday with staff members feeding barbecue to first responders – a way to remember the sacrifices made by first responders on 9/11 and give something back, he said.
“As a member of a first responder, law enforcement family, what he and his staff do is so much appreciated, it really is,” said Bryan County Family Connection Director Wendy Futch, who was there to have lunch with her husband, Bryan County Sheriff’s Office Lt. John Futch. “Tommy is one of the best people I know. I don’t know how many people he’s helped in this community, and how many families he’s served, but he always handles it with grace, and point, and respect.”
Lifelong North Bryan resident Alex Floyd said Flanders deserves every accolade he gets.
“Funeral service is a field that demands dignity, integrity, respect and empathy. There is nobody in my opinion that personifies these qualities more so than Tommy Flanders and his team,” Floyd said. “Mr. Flanders could make more money with less stress with any large firm in a big city but he chooses to faithfully serve a small community in their times of need. He’s more than our ‘last responder,’ he’s our friend."