Mitchell Lewis Flynn

Mitchell Lewis Flynn, age 86, went home to join the Lord on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Mitchell, better known as Mickey, died at home surrounded by his family. Mickey was born in Greer, South Carolina, on September 21, 1938. A loving couple, Alfred and Margaret Stroud, raised him like their own. Mickey was a star student and athlete at Greer High where he played on the South Carolina State Championship basketball team. He later played basketball at Presbyterian College where he married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Smith, at the age of 20. The two would remain married for 64 years. Mickey went on to study dentistry at the Medical College of Virginia where he graduated at the top of his class. In dental school, Mickey and Brenda welcomed two children, Jane and Becca, where Mickey supported the family by donating plasma at the local blood bank and driving a paper route. Following dental school, Mickey and Brenda opened a dental practice in Taylors, South Carolina where they welcomed their third child, Mike. Mickey would later enroll in post graduate periodontics program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Not having enough financial stress, the couple welcomed their fourth child, Patrick. Mickey and Brenda eventually relocated to Albany, Georgia where “Dr. Flynn” practiced as a periodontist for over 30 years and raised their family. Mickey and Brenda will be remembered as generous and loving providers for their family. He will always be remembered for his grueling practices as B Team Basketball coach, but many of his former players remembered him as the greatest coach they ever had. Mickey had an affinity for hunting and fishing. He always enjoyed having the newest gun, fishing rod, jacket, waders, or lure, as long as it was kept secret from his wife. Every fall and winter weekend were consumed with hunting while spring and summer would turn to fishing. Mickey often had one of his children in tow mainly because Brenda made it clear that she was not going to be “left at home” with all these kids. The second week of every April was spent at the elegant Angler’s Paradise in Palatka, Florida, when Mike or Patrick was begrudgingly pulled from school to make the annual trip. Mickey’s passions extended to Alabama football, fast cars, fast boats, Miller Lite, Jack Daniels, beach gazing, and a pristine yard. He was always the best dressed, had every color of cashmere sweater sold, and was not afraid to wear pink. Mickey disapproved of many things, and he never hid that disapproval from you. He was strongly opposed to a vegan diet, abhorred overcooked meat, cringed at female sportscasters, despised Brent Musburger, and hated all Big Ten sports teams. He will be remembered for his dry wit. His patients will always remember him as a skilled gum surgeon with a gruff yet compassionate and kind personality. What they did not know was he often returned home frustrated from a long day to proclaim, “Hell yeah it is going to hurt lady!” His humor remained a part of him through his final days even when he was suffering. Mickey took on the moniker Pops when grandchildren appeared in his life. While he was not a fan of the mess or unnecessary noise, he always enjoyed the grandchildren coming home especially during the holidays. He always shared his stories with them (even though not always appropriate or politically correct), had hunting adventures planned, taught them to play blackjack, and he always showered them with gifts at Christmas. He is reveling today in the younger version of his body, reunited with the love of his life, Brenda, his dog Rip, all his teammates throughout the years (he remembered them all until the very end), as well as his countless hunting and fishing friends throughout the years. Mickey was predeceased by his loving wife, Brenda Smith Flynn. He is survived by his four children, Jane Flynn Sharp (Charlie), Rebecca Flynn Lynn (Worth), Mitchell Lewis ‘Mike’ Flynn Jr (Mandy) and Patrick Smith Flynn (Leigh Ann); 10 grandchildren, Emily Sharp Bisceglia (Patrick), Charles Eugene Sharp III (Stephanie), William Christian Sharp, Catherine Booker Jones (Blake), John Worth Lynn, Wayne Mercer Lynn (Maggie), Mitchell Lewis Flynn III, Carter Flynn James (Evans), Patrick Smith Flynn Jr. and Jane Margeson Flynn; and nine great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank his loving caregivers, Annie Wells, Vietra Ann Jefferson, Caroline Jones, Patricia Harvey, and Jodie Monts, as well as Dr. Joseph W. Stubbs, Dr. Jay McAfee and the compassionate care team of the Phoebe Hospice. In lieu of flowers. memorials may be made to the Class of 1960 Scholarship Fund at Presbyterian College, c/o Office of Advancement 503 S. Broad Street, Clinton, SC 29325 or www.presby.edu/giving/give-now/ - in the comment section note “in memory of Mitchell Flynn” or Porterfield Methodist Church, 2200 Dawson Road, Albany, Georgia 31707.

Mitchell Lewis Flynn

September 21, 1938 - March 11, 2025