Joseph Simeon Flipper (February 22, 1859 – October 9, 1944) was an American bishop and academic.

[2][3] He attended Atlanta University from 1869 to 1876,[3] after which he taught school in Thomaston, Georgia.

[2] He studied theology for five years and was admitted to the ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in January 1880.

[2] Flipper received a doctorate of divinity from Allen University in 1893.

He was initially assigned to the ninth episcopal district, which included Arkansas and Oklahoma,[1] and later held positions throughout the country, mainly in the South.