LILLIAN CONSTANCE FLEMING

FLEMING LILLIAN CONSTANCE (nee Spink) Age 100, of Crosslands, a retirement community in Kennett Square, PA, and formerly of Jenkintown, PA, died September 20, 2021. She was born in 1921 in Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA, to Taylor and Jessie Molyneux Spink. Connie was educated at Greene Street Friends in Germantown, PA, and at Girls High School in Philadelphia (Class of 1939). She earned her BA in Honors English with a Classics minor at Swarthmore College and her MA in Education at Temple University. She was a 5th and 6th grade teacher at Jenkintown Grade School for nearly 25 years. Though short of stature, she always impressed on her students on the first day of the school year that she was tough by showing her muscle. In addition, she was active in the following churches: 1st Methodist Church (Green Lane), Roxborough, PA; Jenkintown United Methodist Church, PA; Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Wilmington, DE; and Westminster Presbyterian Church, West Chester, PA. Connie was a docent at Clivedon, the Chew Mansion in Germantown. She was a lecturer of many subjects, including quilts, tea, and presidents. With her husband Bill, she collected quilts, creamware, art, antiques, and crèches. They enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, as well as Brazil and Europe, and their special vacation spot was Eagles Mere, PA. Her hobbies were knitting, sewing, needlework, entertaining, reading, writing, and doing crossword puzzles. She was a storyteller, Phillies fan, and – according to herself, a "tea-aholic" and to her granddaughters, a "fashionista." Connie was known for knitting sweaters for everyone in the family, wearing skirts and Ferragamo shoes, and writing letters. She was a stickler for good writing. At Swarthmore College she was the Class of 1943 secretary and co-chair of the 50th reunion committee. At Crosslands she was an editor and writer for the Crosslands Chronicle. Described as friendly, generous, witty, and energetic, Connie Spink Fleming would no doubt say, "It's tea time!" Mrs. Fleming is survived by her daughter, Constance Fleming Strickland, and her husband, James, of Dover, DE, and by her son, William M. B. Fleming, Jr., and his wife, Pamela, of Perdido Key, FL. Her grandchildren are Barbara B. Strickland, of Arlington, MA; Constance S. (Aron) Beninghove of Arlington, VA; W. M. Bains (Kelli) Fleming III of Birmingham, AL; Sally S. (Robert) Iracane of Montclair, NJ; and Benjamin T. (Alexis) Fleming of Wilmington, NC. Her great-grandchildren are James Asher Beninghove, Ann Clark Townsend Fleming, Leigh Lilian Beninghove, Mary Walton Bains Fleming, Louisa Mae Beninghove, and Grae Taylor Fleming. In addition to her parents, Taylor and Jessie M. Spink, Connie was predeceased by her beloved husband, William (Bill) Mellor Bains Fleming, of 62 years in 2005. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Sally Spink Fleming; her great grandson, William M. B. Fleming IV; and by her brothers, William Spink and Taylor Spink, Jr. A Memorial gathering will be announced when public health conditions permit. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 W. Pleasant Grove Road, West Chester, PA 19382 and Swarthmore College, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081.