Lurlyn N Fleming

On January 23, 2011, one of God’s indescribably splendid creations returned in Glory to His side. She is now in a place where there is no more darkness and there are no more tears. Thanks be to God and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ for sharing her with us. Naomi Lurlyn January Fleming, a fifth generation Texan, was born in Dallas May 5, 1918 to Hugh January and Naomi Bayer January. She attended public schools in Dallas graduating from Sunset High School in 1935. She graduated with honors from Southern Methodist University in 1939. While at SMU she initiated Delta Gamma Sorority. In her senior year, she was called out for membership in Mortar Board. Lurlyn was a long-time member of P.E.O., BC Chapter of Dallas. She was a member of SMU Woman’s Club, The Ermance Book Club and the American Association of University Women. In 1940, she married the Reverend Durwood Fleming. Lurlyn and Durwood had three children: Dr. Jon Hugh Fleming (Cheryl Lindberg); Pamela Fleming Shamblin (the late Rev. J. Kenneth Shamblin, Jr.); and Martha Ann Fleming Curtis (Dr. Stephen Curtis). Lurlyn and Durwood were blessed with ten grandchildren: Marcus Fleming, Phillip Fleming, Jon Mark Fleming, Mallory Fleming Hammer, Kara Shamblin Churchill, Elaine Fleming Perusquia, Cynthia Marr Shamblin, Collin Curtis, Allison Curtis Stuckey and Rob Fleming. They had sixteen great grand children. In November of 1945 the Fleming’s moved to Houston where Durwood and Lurlyn became the Founding Pastor and Wife of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. They served there until 1961, moving to Southwestern University where Durwood became president and Lurlyn first lady of Texas’ oldest university. They served there for more than twenty years then moved to Dallas. Lurlyn was made “Honorary Alumna” by the Alumni Association of Southwestern University “ for her gracious and understanding support of Southwestern University and all its programs ” Off and on through her life (as a student at SMU and after returning to Dallas in the early 1980’s) she was a devoted member of Highland Park United Methodist Church where she served as a member of the Board of Stewards; Board member of the United Methodist Women Day Assembly and Co-President (with Durwood) of the “Mr. and Mrs. Sunday School Class.” She served as a Delegate to several World Methodist Conferences. In 1979, at the invitation of the government of the People’s Republic of China, she and her husband spent a fortnight visiting and learning about the “new” and emergent nation. Lurlyn was an avid historian and writer; a prolific speaker; and, she was sponsor and supporter of innumerable causes wherein she took the part of those who, for whatever the cause or reason, could not take their own. Lurlyn , Mother , Gamma was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Hugh January, Jr.; her husband; her parents in law, the Rev. John Payne and Lucile Rash Fleming; brothers in law J. Edwin Fleming, Esq., the Rev. Dr. Douglas Fleming, Dr. Ted Boone; her son-in-law the Rev. J. Kenneth Shamblin, Jr. and her niece Becky Boone Stephens. Lurlyn is survived by her children, her grandchildren, her great grandchildren; her sisters- in- law Mary Williams Fleming, Levina Meekins Fleming and her brother and sisters- in-law Rex and Alice Fleming Stultz and Nell Fleming Boone and numerous nieces and nephews. The family is particularly grateful to Charlotte Carmack, her loving caregiver. Lurlyn Fleming’s was an extraordinary life lived in extraordinary times. She embodied the very essence of enlightened Christian woman, loving and faithful wife and careful teacher and ferocious advocate of her children, grandchildren and great grand children. Her life was as surely one of ministry as was her husband’s – in fact their life and ministry, both in the Church and University, remains impossible to describe one apart from the other for indeed, they were one and…now, forever shall be.

There’s a music that echoes in my mind.

Music with no perceived melody.

No lofty combination, no symphonic sound,

But only the nuance and sound of her vocal tones.

Her lyrics of Love, Hope and Belief

Mixed with Laughter, Pleasure and Mischief.

Repetition of her litany brought harmony and comfort.

No finer composition has ever been written.

From a Poem by Cheryl Lindberg Fleming honoring Lurlyn’s 90th Birthday

Memorial Services will be held in Dallas in the sanctuary of Highland Park United Methodist Church at 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 29, 2011, The Rev. Bill Smith and the Rev. Dr. Clayton Oliphint presiding. Her ashes will be interred, alongside her husband’s, in Houston at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church , 3471 Westheimer Road in a service on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at 11:00 AM , The Rev. Doctors Linda Christians and Tom Pace presiding. Memorials may be happily made to any cause or institution that holds knowledge, healing and vital piety at its heart and in its soul.