Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
Neal Fleming Obituary
He was a beloved professor, an excellent administrator, a respected minister, and an active community volunteer. He was born in Canon, Georgia in 1910, the tenth child in a family of 12. He graduated from Marietta High School in 1929, then earned two degrees from Emory University (Bachelor of Arts, 1933 and Bachelor of Divinity, 1936), working as many as seven jobs to pay for his education. He married Mary Louise Dunn of Marietta, Georgia, in 1939 and moved to Massachusetts, where he completed a Ph.D. at Boston University while a student pastor in Charlton City. He was a pastor in Spencer, Massachusetts from 1942-45.
The Flemings moved to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1945, where he was a philosophy professor at Millsaps College. In 1962 they moved to Shreveport, LA, where Dr. Fleming became Dean of Centenary College. In 1966, they settled in Oxford, Georgia, where he was Dean of Oxford College of Emory University. After his retirement in 1976, the Flemings remained in Oxford, where they had formed strong ties and had many friends. In the spring of 2005, the couple moved to the Wesley Woods independent living center in Atlanta. Mary Louise Fleming died in June, 2007.
Throughout his life, Dr. Fleming was a leader in education, in the church, and in the community. He did post-doctoral work at Columbia, Yale and Harvard. He wrote lessons for Methodist Adult Teacher magazine and preached at churches throughout the south. He lectured at several Elder Hostel programs after his retirement, and he taught Sunday School until he was 95.
One of the great joys of his later years was hearing from former students and colleagues. He remained active until the end, conducting wedding ceremonies for two of his grandsons in the last month.
Dr. Fleming is survived by four children, Dell Palazzolo (Gianni) of Jekyll Island, GA and Taormina, Sicily; Jane Keene (Tom) of Kennesaw, GA; John Fleming (Lisa) of Atlanta, and Becky Crosby (Lee) of Valdosta. He had eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Dr. Fleming has donated his body to Emory University Medical School.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 2, 2009, at 2 pm at Glenn Memorial Methodist Church on the Emory Campus. In early August, another memorial service will be held in Oxford, Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Bond Fleming Scholarship at Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford, GA 30054, or to the Foundation of Wesley Woods, 1817 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Neal Fleming
David Meadows
November 4, 2020
I attended Oxford of Emory many years ago when Bond Fleming was Dean and even had a Political Science course with that fine man teaching.
David Meadows
November 4, 2020
I went to Emory at Oxford many years ago. My late Dad was an MD and went to Emory completely; I went to Oxford my 1st 2 College years and then Emory
David & Kaye Hood
July 10, 2009
To the family of "Dean Fleming":
It is with extreme sorrow that I send this note to you. Your father/grandfather was such a wonderful example of what the Heavenly Father wants Dads to be. He married David and me on November 30, 2003 in the Chapel at Oxford. We had asked if he would marry us at his house, but he said he "might have some pull" if we wanted to get married in the Chapel. There were only nine of us there, but it was a beautiful ceremony and I will never forget his kindness and concern for us. He had married my husband's sister and her husband there thirty years earlier. Your mother was there, too, along with David's mother, who had worked with them at Oxford College.
His forthrightness in interviewing us showed us how much he cared that our marriage worked. We loved him very much and his passing makes us extremely sad, though we know the angels are rejoicing, along with M.L.
Camille Yahm
July 8, 2009
Even after 5 decades I still remember the immense joy I felt as a student at the University of Mississippi when Dr. Fleming came to speak to our campus Wesley Foundation. His words were inspiring, but he had an amazing ability to communicate his faith to us university students. I am thankful to have known him at all and only wish I could have renewed that early "friendship" when he retired at Wesley Woods. Our United Methodist Church has lost one of its theological giants.
With sincerest sympathy,
Camille S. Yahm
Phillip Barnhart
July 8, 2009
Dr. Bond Fleming, a strong shoulder on which many of us now stand.
Suzanne Theriot
July 6, 2009
To Bond's loving family know that during this time of sorrow you are in our prayers.
Bond will be deeply missed.
I spoke to Bond last on his 99th birthday he was as I called him my birthday buddy as my birthday was several days later. He was looking forward to spending his birthday with you all. He was looking forward to having a big slice of cake and a red glass of wine if allowed. He was in such good spirits.
I enjoyed our talks. Your father and mother were truly good folk and will be sorely missed. I will always remember their stories and kindness that they showed everyone.
May God Bless them both.
Tom Jackson
July 6, 2009
Dean Fleming was an inspiration and comfort to me not just during my years as a student at Oxford, but also during our long association through the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. From the time I was choir director at Allen Memorial Church during my student years in the early '70s to when I saw Dean Fleming as recently as the Annual Conference meeting in Athens this June -- in each and every meeting from then until now, he was supportive and compassionately interested in my success and well-being. What fine examples of servanthood he and his dear wife were.
Thomas H. Jackson, Jr., Ph.D.
Vice President for Public Affairs
The University of Georgia
Roy Clark
July 2, 2009
Notice of your father's death brings to mind many good memories of the years I was his pastor at Capitol Street Medhodisr Church in Jackson, MS.
He was a treasured friend who enriched my life and the lives of many.
Beth Owens
July 1, 2009
When Grandma Tinie and Grandpa Jim lived on Kirkwood Avenue in Atlanta many, many years ago Uncle Bond found time to TRY to teach my brother, Happy, and me to stand on our heads out in the front yard. Even then he was patient and understanding with his STUDENTS. Goodbye to you,Uncle Bond.
Lide Cooke Anderson
July 1, 2009
Your parents were wonderful friends of our parents, Irene and Jack Cooke, in Shreveport when he was at Centenary. When we read the obituary to Mother who is now blind, I will ask if she has any particular memories she'd like us to share with you. My husband Bill and I went by to see them in Oxford on one of our drives to La. from our home in Raleigh. They were people of such grace, faith and great good humor! Thank you for the beautiful Obituary; I love thinking of him in his garden.
Bill Lampton, Ph.D.
June 30, 2009
Dr. Fleming taught philosophy at Millsaps College, and I had the privilege of taking his introductory class. All these years later, I remember how he challenged students and prompted us to get familiar with the great minds of all time.
My senior year I edited the college yearbook. My editorial staff dedicated the yearbook to him. Fitting, indeed.
He made a lasting impact on me and thousands of others. I remain grateful for his influence, which continues even now.
Donna McDaniel
June 30, 2009
I was blessed to know Dean Fleming; however, I can still hear him (gently) scolding me for not planting more fruit trees on our acreage!
Deanna Dennis
June 30, 2009
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Fleming during my years working at Oxford. It is said that he was among a small group of men who saved Oxford College. Bless him for that and for being an extrordinary human being. He will be missed.
John Ingersoll
June 30, 2009
The obituary neglects to mention that Bond Fleming was Dean of Oxford College twice -- he was brought back in 1985 or so as an interim dean, a tribute to the enduring respect and love he enjoyed. Dean Fleming was as perfect a Christian gentleman as you could hope to know: kind, compassionate, caring and concerned. He was one of Emory's giants.
Cody Watson
June 29, 2009
I have fond memories of him during my Sophmore year in 1970. He advocated for the golf team. Reading his obituary I wish I had known him better. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Ps 116:15
Trulock Dickson
June 29, 2009
A great man who had a profound impact on the lives of many.He will be missed ! Trulock Dickson Ox'72
Anne and Emilio Yachan
June 29, 2009
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will miss you always.
JOhn Chafin
June 29, 2009
A gentle giant of Oxford, of whom I am very grateful.
Henry Anthony
June 29, 2009
Dr. Fleming made a real difference in the lives of so many people. I owe so much to him and will miss him greatly.
Reyno Petree
June 29, 2009
I first met Dean Fleming when I entered the freshman class Oxford College in 1973. A product of the times, I somehow thought that students (freshman in particular) were supposed to fear or even despise The Dean as a member of the hated "establishment".
Dean Fleming taught us differently. It quickly became apparent that he enjoyed young people, and enjoyed teaching and working with them. It was clear that he was our friend and our advocate with the larger Emory community, and even with our parents. Granted, Oxford College was a small campus with a small student body. But Dean Fleming knew each of us, could call us by name, knew where we were from and who our parents were.
Many years later I became reacquainted with Dean Fleming when I became a member of the Board Of Directors of the Oxford College Alumni Association. By that time, Dean Fleming was well into his 90s. Yet, he still remembered me, knew about my career as an attorney, and asked often about my work, my parents, and my hometown of Winder, Georgia.
In my opinion the remarkable ability to remember the intimate details of his students' lives is an example of Dean Fleming's extraordinary capacity for empathy and caring for all of those whom he met. I will always remember him, fondly, as a mentor and friend; and I offer my sincerest condolences to the entire Fleming family at this most difficult time.
Through his life of service to others, Bond Fleming earned God's richest blessings; and the Lord rewarded him with long and fulfilling years. Now, I pray that the Fleming family can find comfort in the knowledge that he has passed away without the debilitating years of suffering that many others experience, and that he is once again reunited with his beloved Mary Louise. My God grant Dean Fleming the rest he so richly deserves.
Reyno B. Petree
' 75Ox ' 77C
Jeff Kehler
June 29, 2009
As a student at Oxford College I had the opportunity to get to know Dr. Fleming. He was a wonderful man who had the patience and tolerance to share his wisdom with the students, some of whom, like me, were not always as aware as we should have been of the value of that wisdom. In later years, I have come to admire and respect that wisdom and the man who had the patience and caring to deliver it. Rest in peace, Dr. Fleming, you will be missed and remembered in our hearts always.
Charles Williams Jr
June 29, 2009
As a student at Oxford College, Class of 1975, I appreciated Dean Fleming's passion for education and his love for Oxford. In the past year when my father, who was a friend of the Dean's, was also a resident at Wesley Woods, I got a rare chance to know him again and see him him through the lens of my subsequent adulthood. I was even more impressed. He was a great comfort to our family when my dad passed away last October. Dean Fleming was a wonderful man and the embodiment of the virtues he admired and espoused.
Showing 1 - 22 of 22 results
Make a Donation
in Neal Fleming's name
Memorial Events
for Neal Fleming
How to support Neal's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Neal Fleming's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
