Richmond McDavid Flowers

Richmond McDavid Flowers, former Attorney General of the State of Alabama, died at his home Thursday, Aug, 9, 2007. He was 88. Memorial services will be Sunday in First United Methodist Church at 4 p.m. with Dr. Lawson Bryan and Dr. Jim Sanders officiating. The family will receive friends in the church parlor following the services on Sunday. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the First United Church, 1380 West Main Street, Dothan, Alabama, 36303. Mr. Flowers was born in Nov. of 1918, in Dothan. He was the fourth son of John Jefferson Flowers and Ila McDavid Flowers. He was a graduate of Dothan High School and the University of Alabama School of Law. He also attended Auburn University. In 1942, during World II, he entered the U.S. Army achieving the rank of Captain. Before his honorable discharge in 1946, he served as a member of General Douglas McArthurs Special Staff in the occupation of Japan. Mr. Flowers returned to Dothan, worked for the Dothan Bank and Trust Company and co-founded Flowers Insurance Agency. In 1948, he completed his law degree and began practicing in his home town. In 1954, Mr. Flowers was elected to the Alabama State Senate where he served as floor leader. During his time in the state Senate, he was instrumental in the passage of landmark legislation, including appropriations for construction of Ross Clark Circle, Southeast Alabama General Hospital and the Houston County Farm Center. He was elected Attorney General of Alabama in 1962. During his term, Mr. Flowers won two landmark voting cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, Baker vs. Carr and Reynolds vs. Sims. His administration was active in voiding Alabamas law prohibiting women serving on juries. He was a leader in prosecuting those who committed hate crimes during the 1960s in Alabama. He worked to advance equality and justice for the entire state population. He was awarded a special certificate for an outstanding administration by the National Association of Attorneys General. In 1966, he ran for governor. In more recent years, Mr. Flowers served as legal advisor to Flowers Hospital. He also taught criminal justice and U.S. history at Wallace Community College. He was a life-time member of First United Methodist Church and taught the Mens Bible class for 25 years. He served on the church administrative board and board of trustees. In 2004, he was named an honorary board member. Mr. Flowers was Rotarian, a member of the Dothan Country Club and a past Chairman of the Peanut Festival. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Katherine Moran Flowers; his parents, John Jefferson Flowers and Ila McDavid Flowers; three brothers, John Jefferson Flowers, James Drury Flowers and Paul Rutledge Flowers. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Mary Russell Flowers of Dothan; son and daughter-in-law, Richmond and Diane Flowers of Birmingham; son, Jeff Flowers of Destin, Fla.; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Dwight Tarwater of Knoxville, Tenn.; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Serving as active pallbearers will be grandsons, Richmond McDavid Flowers, William Russell Flowers, Benjamin Hampton Flowers, Tanner Reece Flowers, John Jefferson Flowers, Davis Edward Tarwater and Dwight Oakes Tarwater. Honorary pallbearers will be the Mens Bible Study class of First United Methodist Church. Byrd Funeral Home, (334) 793-3003, is in charge of arrangements.