Josephine Flemons Dyer

Josephine Flemons Dyer was born to Annie Flemons and Joseph H. Dyer in Pineland, Texas on April 25th, 1935. Her heritage included that of Choctaw Indian, African-American and Anglo descent passed down from her grandparents, Charlie and Honey Duley Flemons and her great grandfather, James Flemons, who was born on a reservation in Oklahoma. "Jo," as she was commonly known, graduated from Bryant High School in Pineland, Texas on May 21st, 1954. She attended Del Mar College in Corpus Christi and completed courses in general business, data processing, and sales. Jo would go on to earn her Ward Clerk certificate from Del Mar and made history as the first African-American to work as a Ward Clerk at Memorial Medical Center in Corpus Christi. She worked alongside dear friend and nurse, Lorenza Gilmore, and retired after 30 years of service.

Josephine poured five years of her life into the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, again, paving the way as the first African-American to gain employment here in the role of an office assistant. The Muscular Dystrophy Association was able to benefit from her skills for three years and Jo was recognized by the Corpus Christi Greatest Generation Society for her significant contributions to senior citizen affairs. As a community volunteer, she boosted morale at the Oveal Williams Senior Center, participated with mobile distributions at the Coastal Bend Food Bank, and was a member of the Northside Community Council, meeting monthly with Citgo and Flint Hills refineries.

Although she did not have children of her own, the proud auntie moved to Corpus Christi, Texas to be closer to her only sister, Girlean Lewis Mazone and husband, Eddie Mazone, who both preceded her in death. It was here where Josephine formed lasting friendships with the neighboring Lusk and Gilmore families. Jo was instrumental in helping to raise, not only her immediate nieces and nephews, but took on the role as caregiver to a host of cousins and children of close family friends. She poured out her love and referred to them all as her children.

As the oldest member of her bloodline, and a "proud Flemons," Josephine was blessed to see four subsequent generations of her family. She spent her latter years vacationing with cousins, Patricia Nelson and Richard Williams and family, before her passing in Beaumont, Texas on June 2nd, 2025. She is preceded in death by her nephew, Donnie Mazone and niece, Doris Mazone. There remains to keep her memory alive, Kathryn (of Donnie) Mazone, her nieces and nephews: (great:) Rena Powell, Monica Mazone, LaSonya Mazone, DonTeau Mazone, Roderick Dwayne Mazone, Don Mazone, Mea Mazone, Edward Mazone, Jamar Mazone and a host of relatives and friends.

A visitation for Josephine will be held Friday, June 13, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Funeraria Del Angel, 549 Cheyenne, Corpus Christi, TX 78405. Following the visitation will be a committal service from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM at External Service Location, 8200 Old Brownsville Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78415.