Rev. Edna Mary Fleming

Rev. Edna Mary (Abel) Fleming, age 80, died peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on August 4, 2025. Edna was born at home on December 21, 1944 in Sand Lake, Michigan to Alice (Hall) and Carlington Abel. She was a graduate of Cedar Springs High School, Michigan State University, and the Course of Study for United Methodist Local Pastors.

From a young age, Edna felt called by God to serve the vulnerable and marginalized. Edna began her career in ministry in 1966 as a Methodist Missionary in Brazil. While abroad, she was accepted at Garrett and Union Theological Seminaries. Visiting home briefly in January of 1970, she met Rev. George Fleming. George and Edna were soul mates. They married in November of 1970 and had two children: Alice Mary (Michael) Fleming Townley and Christina Joy Fleming (Neil Harvey). Edna and George cherished their grandchildren, Jonathan and Grace Townley.

At every church where her husband George was appointed as a pastor, Edna was the un-official co-pastor. They served United Methodist Churches in Turk Lake, Greenville, Chapel Hill in Sodus, and Lawrence Avenue in Charlotte. While at Lawrence Avenue, she completed the Course of Study at Duke Divinity, became a local pastor and was officially appointed to serve with George.

Gracious hospitality, compassionate listening, and steadfast leadership were core to Edna's essence. In the Greenville area, she initiated a Meals on Wheels program. While in Sodus, she resettled families who were refugees from the Vietnam War, formed a county wide task force against child abuse and neglect, and supported Benton Harbor Public Schools. In Charlotte, she organized local CROP walks and chaired the Hunger Task Force for the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church, which at that time led the denomination in per capita giving.

She enjoyed creating beauty, re-decorating parsonages, and restoring the churches where they served. She cooked abundantly for her family, guests, and church crowds.

In their retirement, she delighted in designing and hosting in the 'yellow house' on their blueberry farm in South Haven. She kept the books for their farm, and chaired the Conference Nominating Committee. She continued to be a church leader at Casco United Methodist Church, where she and George were members.

In recent years, Edna progressed with grace and kindness through vascular dementia and she died of heart failure. Her family is forever grateful to Brandy Brown, the nurse who cared for Edna and always saw her soul, despite her health challenges.

Edna is survived by her daughters, Alice Mary (Michael) Fleming Townley, Christina Fleming (Neil Harvey); her grandchildren, Jonathan and Grace Townley; sister, Martha (Raymond) Eppler; brother-in-law, John McLaughlin; George's siblings, Tom (Dorann) Fleming, Floyd Fleming, Dotti Shonkwiler, and Ann Vermillion; several nieces and nephews; and their children. She was preceded in death by her husband George; her parents Carl and Alice Abel; siblings, Albert (Fran) Abel, Helen McLaughlin, Gertrude (Harry) Reynolds and Allyn Abel; and George's brother-in-laws, Richard Vermillion and Jim Shonkwiler.