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Sergeant Jeff Flanders served the citizens of Lexington County for nearly four decades. He began his career with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department in 1984 and served until his retirement in April 2022, working in crime prevention and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education programme, where he reached countless young people and families across the county. His final assignment was with the Sheriff's Community Action Team, building relationships between law enforcement and the community he served.
He was a professional speaker, a former broadcaster, a singer and an entertainer, and he was the father of Gertrood the Duck, the ventriloquist character who carried his lessons to audiences of every age. Whether he stood in front of a classroom, a room of teachers, or a group of parents, his message did not change: one person can make a difference.
Rest easy, Sergeant Flanders. Your watch is complete, but your influence lives on.
Before law enforcement Jeff built a career in broadcasting, beginning as a radio announcer at WTMA in Charleston and working at WIS-Radio from 1969 to 1976 and again from 1981 to 1983 as both an on-air personality and business manager. In the late 1970s he was station manager of KWJS in Dallas. Even while serving with the Sheriff's Department he kept a part-time seat on the morning show at Z93 The Lake.
A graduate of Eau Claire High School in Columbia, he joined the United States Air Force after graduation. His service was cut short for medical reasons and he was honourably discharged.
He was predeceased by his wife, Marilyn "Mandy" Flanders. They married on 25 September 1967.
Family
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 3, 2026
- Last updated
- August 3, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Jeff is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Flanders gave the Lexington County Sheriff's Department 38 years.
Thank you for your service to Lexington County, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Jeff Flanders served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Illness
Lexington County Sheriff's Department has lost 6 officers; 1 of them lost to illness.
Jeff is one of 11 officers lost to illness in SC, 2.5% of the 442 remembered there.
Jeff is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Jeff is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2026, 1 officer in SC was lost to illness, the 3rd heaviest of 3 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 6.
In 2026, 10 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 22nd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2026, 10 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 44th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
When
June holds 18.2% of these deaths in SC; August holds the most, 27.3%. Tuesdays: 18.2%.
June holds 4.9% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
June holds 6.1% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Tuesdays: 13.8%.
How
Illness deaths account for 16.7% of all 6 deaths at Lexington County Sheriff's Department, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 2.5% of all 442 deaths in SC, the 4th most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Lexington County Sheriff's Department has 6 officers remembered here, Jeff among them.
Military Service
Jeff Flanders served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit Jeff Flanders’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Laid to Rest
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Lexington County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
