On April 25, 1941 James Edward Flakes was born to Otis L. Flakes and Ruby Allen-Flakes. From this union, nine total children were born. Otis Jr., Lou Ann, Joe, Christine, Johnnie Sue, and Johnnie Lee all preceded him in death.

Dr. Flakes was educated at Humboldt Public Schools until the age of 12 when the family moved to Muncie, Indiana. Dr. Flakes earned his undergraduate degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He went on to earn his master's degree at Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana. He earned his doctorate degree from Tennessee College. Dr. Flakes also received two honorary doctorate degrees. In addition to his studies, Dr. Flakes sang with several singing groups; most notably the Flakes Family and the Traveling Notes.

At the age of 21, Dr. Flakes was ordained by Pastor R.E. Smith of Greater Good Hope Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. There he met the love of his life, Martha Ann House. On June 27, 1964 they were married. To that union two children were born, Teresa and Tonja Flakes.

In 1966, Dr. Flakes was called to pastor St. Paul Baptist Church in Princeton, Indiana. The next year, in 1967 he was called to pastor Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Richmond, Indiana. In 1973, Dr. Flakes was called to Pastor Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. In 1984 (after the total loss of Prince of Peace by fire), Dr. Flakes held weekly services at Prayer Tabernacle Church. Not long after, he moved his congregation to the Detroit Singing Quartet Facility in Detroit, MI and named it Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. In the spring of 1985, Bethlehem MBC moved to the corner of Joy Road and Hubbell Avenue. A new church named Joy Road Missionary Baptist Church was established. Dr. Flakes went on to travel the world; spreading the gospel in every state in the United States of America, parts of Jerusalem, various countries on the continent of Africa, and parts of the Caribbean. His teachings and preachings were sought after worldwide.

During Dr. Flakes' career he served as a Chaplain for the Wayne County Sheriff's Department. He also served as a Chaplain at Stinson Funeral Home and Trinity Funeral Home. He served as an adjunct professor at Marygrove College (where he received one of his honorary doctorate degrees). Dr. Flakes has trained, taught and educated ministers in various Christian religions, under the umbrella of both Protestant and Catholic.

Dr. Flakes served as the Vice President of both the National Baptist Convention as well as the Michigan State National Baptist Convention. He is widely considered the best deliverer of eulogies. Dr. Flakes' ministry reached beyond the pulpit to the music industry where he mentored a host of musicians from all genres. He also amazed music directors all over the world because he knew and could sing every hymn ever requested.

His culinary skills were only matched by his wife's. His barbecues were legendary, and his BBQ sauce was in demand year round. During summers, his pool parties lasted until sunrise. If you were willing to learn to swim, he was willing to teach you. He taught every youngster that came to his pool how to swim.

Dr. Flakes was a lively man, even as he aged. During his lengthy illness he received exceptional care from his family, Cinda June-Brewer, Naziroom Jones, and the care staff of Angela's hospice, until he took his final breath on February 19, 2022. He is already greatly missed.