Constance Kearse "Connie" Flexer

Constance Flexer

Constance "Connie" Kearse Flexer, 99, joined our Lord on June 15, 2025. She was part of the Greatest Generation - of which, as of 2024, there are fewer than 66,000 left in the entire U.S. She lived through the Great Depression, World War II, the Attack on Pearl Harbor, D-Day, the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Korean War, the Bay of Pigs, the Vietnam War, the Covid 19 Global Pandemic and more. She would have turned 100 years old on Sept. 10 of this year.

Her parents, Henry Homer and Bessie Mae Kearse of Olar, South Carolina, owned an expansive South Carolina farm with dairy, cattle, crops and trees. Louise Kearse, the oldest of three siblings, left home for college literally the day Connie was born leaving behind a brother and newborn sister.

Connie graduated from Olar High School in 1943 and attended Coker College (now University) in Hartsville, South Carolina. Her time at Coker was nothing shy of vibrant. She began her freshman year as a music major and became active on the field hockey team. Her sophomore year, she joined the Christian Association and Music Club, while thriving on the field hockey team. Her junior year was even more eventful as she added varsity basketball and became an active participant within Sigma Tau Delta - Coker's English sorority; Alpha Psi Omega - Coker's dramatic fraternity; and the Queen Bess Players - an amateur theater club. Throughout her senior year she remained actively committed to the same teams and organizations and was elected president of the Music Club. She graduated Class of 1946 with a double major in music and education.

Following graduation, she relocated to Brunswick to teach third grade. It was there she met Major Winebert Flexer II, a decorated Army Air Corps veteran fresh back from World War II, on a double date. Little did she know the acceptance of this new job would also lead to meeting her future husband and raising a family on the Georgia Coast. Connie and Winebert married in August of 1948.

They moved to Athens, and Connie taught school and piano lessons while Dan attended the University of Georgia Law School, graduating in 1950. Soon after, they returned to Glynn County where he became a local practicing attorney and she taught fourth grade. Dan was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1961 and resigned a year after being appointed to the post of Superior Court Judge of the Brunswick Judicial District. Connie continued teaching kindergarten at First Baptist Church of Brunswick and for 22 years, played the supportive role of "a judge's wife." As a tribute to Dan after his death in 1985, she began a longstanding annual tradition of playing a piano solo of Jesus Loves Me, Clair De Lune during the Sunday church service where they had been faithful members since 1951.

Above all, Connie so valued time with her family, church and girlfriends. She was spontaneous, somewhat adventurous and loved to travel. She thoroughly enjoyed local theatrical plays, concerts, playing bridge and was an original member of the St. Simons Island Cherokee Garden Club. She was a long-standing member of the ladies handbell choir and Christian Women's Club at First Baptist Church.

Connie and Dan were founding members of Sea Island and the Brunswick Country Club. Many wonderful memories include time spent together at the Beach Club during summers and the Fourth of July holiday. Together we all enjoyed many a sunset at the Sea Island Lodge while listening to the bagpiper play.

Connie is survived by her son, Winebert "Bert" Flexer III (Gail); daughter, Susan Elizabeth "Libby" Smith (Steve); her grandchildren, Jean Marie Richardson (Hap), Allison Hughes (Vince), Claire Flexer, Brittany Roberts (Adam) and Sullivan "Sully" Smith. She is predeceased by her husband, Judge Winebert "Dan" Flexer II; and son, Jim Flexer.

Her funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 30 at First Baptist Church of Brunswick, with the Rev. Jim Crandall officiating. Burial will follow at Palmetto Cemetery with an informal visitation with family and friends afterwards.

In Connie's honor, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church in Brunswick.

The extended family will be gathering at Lake Murray in September for a celebration of life in recognition of what would have been her 100th birthday.

Libby and Bert would like to say a special thanks to the extraordinary caregivers known as "Team Connie" who loved and assisted with caring for her in our Daniel Island, South Carolina, home over the past several years. And to the Rev. Jim Crandall, Tommy McMillan, Ann Dempsey and Sandra Brunson we extend our heartfelt appreciation for helping us remember when . . .

Family-placed obituary

The Brunswick News, June 25, 2025