Ms. Lillian Hazel Fleming Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

I was born on Sunday, July 29, 1923 in Pitt County North Carolina to Benjamin Warren Fleming and Bertha Howard Fleming. I am the youngest and longest surviving of their five children (Helen Louise Harrington, William Arthur Fleming, Leatha Fleming Paige, James Howard Fleming, and me). My time on earth has been spent in Pitt and Martin counties here in eastern North Carolina. My father was a farmer and my mother a homemaker. While my dream was to be a teacher, I too worked on the farm and later as a domestic worker. Finally, I was employed as a cook at Martin County schools retiring from many years of service in 1989. I lived out my dream of teaching by ensuring to the best of my ability the education of my children, sharing whatever wisdom God gifted me with my family, friends and others thru life learned lessons, setting a standard of excellence in work and life, freely loving, giving and forgiving. In my life, I have lived through times of want (the Great Depression), times of war (World War II, Vietnam War, Desert Storm) and times of sickness (COVID-19 pandemic). There have also been times of great joy as I raised my own family. (Johnny Ray, Benjamin Earl, William, Teresa Rose and Regina). I have always loved to cook providing delicious meals and a place to call home for all who came. I always tried to share my best from plates on the table to the fresh vegetables and flowers from my garden. My love for family and community is demonstrated by the works of my hands and the love in my heart. Through it all, God has kept me. His gift of faith and salvation to me, led to many years of service as an usher and mother of the church at Clemmons Grove Pentecostal Holiness Church in Stokes, N.C. I attended and served there faithfully until my declining health no longer allowed me to do so. I gave Teresa’s hand a final squeeze and slipped into eternal glory early Saturday morning, May 16th at Vidant Medical Center. I leave my much-loved children Johnny (Frances), Benjamin, William (Yvonne), Teresa, and Regina (Byron) to carry my lessons of love and faith throughout this world sharing and impacting all those they meet. Through them and all the people who have encountered my path, my legacy is shared and goes forth. God also blessed me with grandchildren, Cynthia Williams, Sabrina Nelson, Dwayne Nelson, Billy Fleming, Gregory Garfield (predeceased me in his homegoing), Bendetta Fleming, Ennis James, Benjamin Fleming Jr (Tikya), Nikki Hatcher (Perry), Matthew Fleming, Jermina Saunders (Jay), and Andrew Wade. Blessed am I to also witness the perpetuation of my life and legacy through the birth of my great grandchildren, Naceili, Naveen, Kyeli, Nylah, Fawziyah, Kru and Wafeeq. Throughout my life, it has been made richer by the love and support of my cousins/children of my double first cousin, the late Robert and Delzoria Fleming (James, Robert Jr, Sam who predeceased me in his homegoing, Willie Earl, Novella and Johnny Ray). My nieces - Rebecca Paige, Linda Harrington, Ethel Roberson, Barbara Jean Fleming, Gloristine Gause, Carolyn Paige, Lynette Paige, Helen Stroud, Joyce Williams (Robert), my nephews (who preceded me in their home going-Willie Fleming Sr., James Harrington, Peter Harrington, Clifton Harrington), great nieces/nephews and many, many cousins and friends including my sister/friend Shirley and her husband Tom Clark and the descendants of the late Hazel Keel all are among the great joys of my life. I have served the purposes of the Lord and now have gone away to a place prepared just for me. There I will live eternally. Don’t look for me because I’ve gone home to be with my Lord. He has made known to me the path of life. In His presence there is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11). So, share the faith and love that God has shared through me with you to all along your journey. Be encouraged. It is well with my soul.

Tributes

Ms. Lillian Hazel Fleming

July 29, 1923 - May 16, 2020