Dr. James FLEMING

FLEMING, Dr. JamesAge 79. Died on Thursday, August 17, 2012. Born on April 3, 1933, to Margaret Thomas Fleming and James Howard Fleming in Spartanburg, SC, Jim graduated from high school in Greenwood, MS then graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vanderbilt University in 1955, where he played varsity baseball and was a member of Phi Delta Theta social fraternity. He graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School in 1958 and did his internship and General Surgery Residency there from 1958-1963. After completing a residency in Plastic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, he entered private practice in Nashville in 1965. Here, he served as an active staff member of Vanderbilt, St. Thomas, Baptist, and Centennial hospitals and co-founded Plastic Surgery Affiliates with Dr. Kirkland Todd. In 1972, he was a founder and owner of West Side Hospital, where he was Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Board. In 1992, he became certified in addiction medicine, co-founded the Center for Professional Excellence, a pioneer in helping health care professionals overcome addiction. There, he served as Medical Director until 2006 and remained active in the addiction community. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Cumberland Heights at the time of his death. His friendship with Father Charles Strobel led Fleming to join the Board of Directors at Room In The Inn, where he helped develop the Odyssey Program to guide chronically homeless individuals through the process of reestablishing stable and productive lives. He has served there as board president since 2004. An instrument-rated pilot, Fleming co-founded the Nashville Jet Center. He was an enthusiastic golfer at Belle Meade Country Club and a loyal supporter of Vanderbilt baseball. He also was active at both First Presbyterian Church, where he was a member, and at Woodmont Christian Church. Since 1968, he was a member of Nashville's Downtown Rotary Club. Jim leaves behind his wife, Jane Hill Fleming, and daughters Janetta Fleming and Catherine (Austin) Davis of Nashville and daughter Karen (Bill) Traina of Wrightsville Beach, NC; grandchildren, Anna Spears, Nicholas and Isabel Concepcion, Daisy and Drew Davis. He also leaves behind two sisters, Mitzie Trotter (Columbia, SC) and Nancy Strickland (Savannah, GA), and nephew, Chip (Ann) Strickland and nieces, Margaret (Ed) Williamson, Libby (Thomas) Brown and Lynn (David) Adams; as well as great-nephews, Ben and David Strickland and Thomas Brown and great-nieces, Bennett and Margaret Brown and Kelly and Bailey Adams; and his companion, Lily. Jim's many life-long friendships brought him great joy. Gifts may be made to Room In The Inn, P.O. Box 25309, Nashville, TN 37202, or to Cumberland Heights, P.O. Box 90727, Nashville, TN 37209. Visitation is Monday, August 20th, 5-7 p.m. and Tuesday, August 21st, 10-11 a.m., First Presbyterian Church, Courtenay Hall, 4815 Franklin Pike, Nashville. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary.