Jimmy Joe Flanagan (affectionately known as Tater) of Greenville, MS was born January 19, 1951 and passed into his heavenly respite December 17, 2025. Born in Blytheville, Arkansas, and raised in Cleveland, Mississippi, he was dedicated to the Delta.
After high school, he attended both Holmes Community College and Delta State University where he played football.
Coach Flanagan enjoyed the longest tenure in Washington School’s history to date at 50 years. He was a champion of Washington School, never ceasing to work endlessly endeavoring to achieve any task set before him. From coaching endless numbers of young men in football to instructing field events in track and field, he led by example in his dedication to the sports. He took pride in he physical facilities of Washington School and the sports fields that he managed. The long hours spent painting the football field is a core memory for his family as well as moving sprinklers to assure the fields were appropriately green. His legacy will live on as the football stadium bears his name.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Cindy Noell Flanagan; his daughter, Leslie Flanagan Mason (Ronnie); his son, Burt Anthony Flanagan (Beth Moore); his grandchildren, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Mason Anderson (Cal), Jamie “Kirsten” Mason, Julia Klaire Mason, James “Bradyn” Mason, Alisabeth Susanne “Ali Anne” Flanagan, Cyril Talmadge Flanagan, Murphy “Clay” Flanagan, and his great-grandsons, Keaton Cole Anderson and William “Tate” Anderson. He is also survived by his siblings, Sue Bruce (Don), Lynn Flanagan (Terri), Judy Clardy, and Terry Flanagan (Nicole) as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents Jim “Chief” and Jewel Flanagan, grandmother, Ruby Brake, nephew, Shannon Cummings, sister-in-law, Sandra Murphy Flanagan, and brother-in-law Carl Clardy.
Special thanks to all of his coaching friends and Washington School staff and families for their support in his many health challenges through the recent years.
The family will be hosting a memorial in Sykes Hall at Washington School on January 19, 2026, with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. and a service to begin at 1:00 p.m. All are encouraged and welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to First Baptist Church of Greenville Missions Ministry who blessed us greatly in the building of a wheelchair ramp during our time of need.