Jo Lee Fleming

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Service Schedule
First United Methodist Church
1610 Prince Street
Conway, AR  72034
Monday, March 26, 2018
2:00 pm
Cemetery
Oak Grove Cemetery
329 Bruce St.
Conway, AR  72032
Jo Lee Fleming

of Conway, AR

September 26, 1931 - March 19, 2018

Jo Lee Fleming died peacefully on March 19,2018 in Conway, Arkansas. He was born in Morrilton, Arkansas in 1931 to W. H. and Nora Lee Fleming. The family moved to Conway when he was in tenth grade. His brothers Wendell and James and daughter Emily Ann Fleming Castle preceded him in death.

He married Mary Moore in 1956 in Greene Chapel at Hendrix College. Surviving are his wife Mary Moore Fleming, son David M. Fleming, pastor of Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, Hot Springs and his wife Karla Hefty and John A. Fleming, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Paragould and his wife Susie Fleming. His grandchildren are Hunter Castle, Andrew Fleming, Hope Castle, Harrison Castle, Annie Grace Fleming, Hallie Castle and Julie Ann Fleming.

His musical training was at Hendrix College (B.A.); Southern Methodist University (M.M.) where he also completed a year of study at Perkins School of Theology; and Union Theological Seminary in New York (Doctor of Sacred Music).

His preferred musical instrument was the organ and for most of his career, he was both organist and choir director. In high school, he played for First Presbyterian Church. While at Hendrix, he played for First Methodist Church. His first professional position was as Minister of Music at Central Methodist Church, Fayetteville, Arkansas. While at SMU, he played for First Disciples of Christ Church, Dallas. Later in Little Rock, he played for Winfield Methodist Church and Westover Hills Presbyterian Church. While at Union Theological, he played for Prospect Presbyterian Church in Maplewood, New Jersey. He also served as Director of Music Ministries for several churches in Jackson, Tennessee and played for United Methodist Church Annual Conferences in Arkansas and Tennessee.

In addition to his church duties, he also had a full-time teaching career. He began his teaching career at Hendrix College. Later, at Lambuth College in Jackson, Tennessee, where he was full professor and head of the Humanities Division, he taught both music theory and applied music from 1964 to 2000. He also participated in Lambuth theatre productions, as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Charlie Anderson in Shenandoah and Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. For many years, during Lambuth's interim terms, he and Jesse Byrum led community members on trips to New York to experience Broadway theatre, musical events and museums.

He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather, talented musician, thoughtful friend, gentleman, scholar and story teller. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at First United Methodist Church, Conway, Arkansas on Monday, March 26 at 2:00 p.m.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Conway, AR; Hendrix College; or the charity of your choice.

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9 Condolence(s)
Don Huneycutt
Jackson, TN
Liked
Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Jo and I worked together for some 35-40 years. He was chair of the Music Department and Director of the Lambuth Choir for many years. Indeed, he produced some wonderful organ students who have been quite successful and for that he should be be lauded.
After his retirement, we had several warm phone messages and I think our respect was mutual. I knew his children, am deeply sorry for the untimely death of his daughter and appreci the accomplishments of his sons as Methodist Ministers. To Jo, my deep feelings!



DW
Cordova, TN
Liked
Thursday, March 29, 2018

So sorry for your loss may you find peace and comfort in the words spoken at 2 Corinthians 1:3 & 4" Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of tender mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trials so that we may be able to comfort others in any sort of trial with the comfort that we receive from God

Margaret Srygley
Little Rock, AR
Liked
Monday, March 26, 2018

I was saddened to hear of Jo's passing. I knew him as a wonderfully supportive father to John and David. My sympathies go out to Mary, John, David, and the rest of the family. ~ Margaret

Carolyn’s and Maury Joe
Pine Bluff, AR
Liked
Sunday, March 25, 2018

Our deepest sympathy to the family.

Betty Jean Fleming Hendricks
Benton, AR
Liked
Thursday, March 22, 2018

It is with sadness and sorrow to learn that my cousin Jo Lee passed away.

I will always remember Jo with the Fleming twinkle in his eyes and his Fleming whimsy. He would walk in and fill the room with his positive energy and great good humor. Everyone was always so happy to see him. Everyone loved Jo Lee.

When Jo visited he always was kind enough to play part of Beethoven’s Minuet in G for my father, his uncle, even though the old upright was not in perfect tune. One time Jo took him over to the church and opened the grand piano and played the entire piece just for him.

May God be with the Flemings at this time, especially Mary, David, John, and their families. My prayers are with you.

With heartfelt and deepest sympathy,

Betty Jean Fleming Hendricks

Linda Cabler
Jackson, TN
Liked
Thursday, March 22, 2018

I have known Jo and Mary over 30 years. We remodeled their home on Laurie Circle and were with them every day for months. There was no a better person anywhere than Jo Fleming. He will be sadly missed for all who knew him.

Karen Miller-Warwick
Overton, TX
Liked
Thursday, March 22, 2018

As a Lambuth graduate and former student of Dr. Fleming I wanted to express my condolences to his family. I attended one of the New York trips and I adored his whimsical nature and love of music.

Thank you Dr. Fleming for sharing your gifts and talents with all of us. May you have an eternal rest in peace.

Prayers and hugs to the entire Fleming family. God bless.

Wendy Griffin Anderson
Memphis, TN
Liked
Monday, March 19, 2018

My sincere sympathy to Dr. Fleming's family. I studied under him at Lambuth in the early '90s. He was a brilliant teacher, an amazing musician, and a wonderful person. His passing leaves the world a poorer place.

Beth Butkhart Godwin
Blairsville, GA
Liked
Monday, March 19, 2018

I am so sorry to read of Dr Fleming’s passing! I had numerous classes with Dr Fleming as well as the January interim on leading church choirs. He was a caring man and loved music and instilled that in his students! I’m sure the choir in heaven is loving him as his students did!