Jana Dean Fleming

On Friday, January 30, 2026, at 9:31pm, Jana Dean Fleming’s faith became sight when she was welcomed home by Jesus. While our hearts will grieve her absence, we rejoice in the truth that she is now fully healed, fully restored, and forever in the presence of her Savior.

Jana was born on June 4, 1957 in Sanger, TX, and from the very beginning, her life was marked by love, faith, and purpose. She knew Jesus personally, trusted Him deeply, and lived in a way that made His love visible to everyone around her. She retired from the University of North Texas where she met many of her life-long friends that she still spent joyful time with.

She was the heart of our family—a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend whose love was steady, sacrificial, and unconditional. She prayed faithfully, encouraged boldly, forgave freely, and loved generously. Her faith was something she didn’t just speak about, she lived it every day. 

To Jana was to feel known, prayed for, and deeply loved. Wherever she went, others felt welcomed. She found joy in everything, including family gatherings, church, singing in the church choir, Bible studies, encouraging others, traveling with family and friends, and much more. She never missed an opportunity to remind others that God is good, faithful, and near, especially in hard times. Her legacy of faith and love will continue through each life she touched.

She was welcomed into Heaven by her parents J.M. and Mary Belle Sims, her brother Richard Sims, and her first husband, Richard “Ricky” Dean, Dana’s father. She is survived by her beloved husband, Jerry Fleming, daughter and son-in-love Dana and Bryan Duke, grandchildren Bryson and Allie Duke, bonus daughters Amy Cooper and husband Daniel, Amanda Kolman and husband Loren, and Melodie McGarrah and husband Jeremy, and many beloved grandchildren through her marriage to Jerry, her niece Stephanie Payne and husband Josh, and numerous cousins she loved dearly.

A celebration of life service will be held on February 17th at 10am, at First Denton, 1100 Malone St., Denton, TX 76201, where we will worship, remember, and celebrate the faithfulness of God through Jana’s life.

If you wish to make a donation in place of flowers, Jana requested to honor her memory with contributions to Bowles Family Endowment through First Baptist Sanger, First Refuge Ministries through First Baptist Denton, or Scottish Rite for Children.

Her greatest hope was that others would know the same peace, promise, and comfort she found in Jesus. If you are reading this and do not know Jesus, her greatest hope would be that her life, and now her homecoming, would point you to Him. The same Savior who carried her home is offering eternal life, peace, and hope to all who believe.