David Fleming

The Celebration of Life service for Dr. David M. Fleming, age 64, of Montgomery, will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church Montgomery. Family and friends are welcome to gather at the Stakely Sanctuary from 1:00-2:00 p.m. before the service begins, which will also be held at Stakely.

Dr. Fleming passed away at his home on Saturday, August 31, 2024.

David’s parents, Herman and Doris Fleming, preceded him in death. He is survived by cousins Frank McLelland (Linda) of Navarre, Florida; Johnny McLelland (Teresa) of Monroeville, Alabama; Christy Hutcheson (Bruce) of Evergreen, Alabama; and Dianne Franklin of Andalusia, Alabama. He also had a host of close friends who were like family. David’s cat friend, Millie, has been his companion for the last ten years.

A Birmingham native, David Fleming graduated from Minor High School in Forestdale, Samford University in Birmingham, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He attained his PhD at Southern Seminary in Hebrew/Old Testament and taught at various colleges in Kentucky, Virginia, and Alabama.

After David moved to Montgomery to serve at Patterson Technical College, his life’s purpose was found by being a missionary on behalf of the Montgomery Baptist Association in Puebla, Mexico with the International Mission Board, and Hong Kong, China with Hong Kong Baptist University. After many years of service, David’s health necessitated returning to the United States to serve in chaplaincy. After receiving his Clinical Pastoral Education at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis and MD Anderson in Houston, David began serving as a hospice chaplain in Boston, Chattanooga, Cookville, and Knoxville, Tennessee. He later became a vice president of Charis Hospice Care, where he oversaw chaplains and social workers.

After David was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, he decided to move back to Montgomery to be closer to family, friends, and doctors. He served as a chaplain at Baptist Health’s Montgomery Cancer Center for many years. He was loved by his patients and highly regarded for his pastoral care gifts.

David was also a faithful member of the First Baptist Church Montgomery and enjoyed singing in their 100-voice choir. Our friend’s baritone voice and visible beard made him the centerpiece of the Living Christmas Tree every year. David also enjoyed his final years as “Santa Dave” (https://santadavesworld.com/). His love for children and families and his authentic beard and clothing made David a favorite Santa Claus in the River Region.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to First Baptist Montgomery for the Living Christmas Tree ministry.