Wesley Gilbert Flournoy

In Loving Memory of Wesley Gilbert Flournoy

On April 9th, 1941, Wesley Gilbert Flournoy was born in Greenville, Georgia, the seventh son of Warner Flournoy and Martha White Flournoy. Raised in a hardworking family of sharecroppers, Gilbert learned the values of faith, perseverance, and dedication from an early age.

As a young man, Gilbert found the love of his life, Mary Nell Spates, at the local Greenville gas station. Their love story began there and was sealed in marriage at the Greenville Courthouse on Christmas Eve, 1960—a day made even more special as it was also Mary Nell’s birthday.

Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where Gilbert pursued night classes at DeVry College, studying the emerging field of computer technology. While building his education and career, Gilbert and Mary Nell also built a loving family.

Their first son, Wesley Gilbert Flournoy II, was born in 1962 but was tragically called home to the Lord at just four months of age. Although they carried this loss throughout their lives, they were blessed with two more children: their beloved daughter, Dianne Renee, born in 1964, and their son, Daryl Wayne, born in 1967.

Throughout his life, Gilbert’s unwavering faith in Jesus Christ remained the foundation of everything he did. As his family and professional career flourished, so did his commitment to serving the Lord. His dedication eventually led him to become an ordained minister and pastor of Grace Community Church, where he faithfully shepherded his congregation and shared God’s love with others.

Professionally, Gilbert enjoyed a distinguished career in information technology, retiring at the age of 48 as Director of Data Processing for Crawford Long Hospital and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. His early retirement allowed him to devote more of his time to ministry and serving others.

Later, Gilbert and Mary Nell made their home in the Sunshine State of Florida, where they embraced one of life’s greatest joys—becoming grandparents. They lovingly welcomed their grandsons, Wesley Ryker and Coen Wayne, born to Daryl and Danielle Flournoy.

In 2022, Gilbert experienced the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife, Mary Nell, after 62 years of marriage. Though deeply saddened, his steadfast faith carried him forward. With the loving care and companionship of his daughter, Dianne, he continued to enjoy life, traveling across the country and experiencing the beauty of the United States together.

Gilbert’s heart grew even fuller when he became a proud great-grandfather to Raelyn Elise in 2023 and Brinley Raine in 2025, daughters of Wesley Ryker and Laine Flournoy. His love for his family spanned four generations, and he treasured every moment spent with them.

On Sunday, July 26, 2026, Gilbert was diagnosed with leukemia. Even in the face of this difficult news, his faith never wavered. He found peace in the promise of eternal life and often spoke of the joy of being reunited with his loved ones who had gone before him.

Surrounded by his loving family, Wesley Gilbert Flournoy peacefully entered the presence of his Lord and Savior on the evening of Thursday, July 30, 2026.

Gilbert leaves behind a legacy of unwavering faith, devoted love for his family, faithful service to God, and a life marked by integrity, kindness, and perseverance. Though he will be deeply missed, his family finds comfort in knowing that he has heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and has been welcomed into his eternal home with the Lord.