Mary Lula Fleming

Mary Lula Williams Fleming joined that great cloud of witnesses on August 27, 2012, at the age of 95. Mary was born March 16, 1917 in Paris, Texas. She jokingly referred to herself as a “Parisite.” She graduated valedictorian from Paris High School (1934), and graduated magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University (1938), a school that always held her love and loyalty. She was a member of Sigma Kappa sorority, the Latin honor society, and Mortar Board. She briefly taught English in Deport, TX, then returned to Dallas to marry J. Edwin Fleming, a graduate of SMU Law School. She was a member of Seneca (a study group), Yokefellows, her sorority alumnae club, and an early member of University Park Methodist Church. She enjoyed the piano from childhood and always delighted when she could interest young people in musical expression. She taught piano lessons and kept up with pupils for many years. Music gave her such joy that she wanted everyone to experience it.

Parents, Stella Crawford Williams and James Polk Williams, moved to Dallas during her college days along with her brother, James Polk Williams, Jr.

Mary and Edwin had four children: Rosemary Fleming McCullough (Dr. James P. McCullough, Jr.) of Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Richard Edwin Fleming of Seguin, Texas, the Rev. Stephen Carl Fleming (Elizabeth Nutting Fleming) of New Roads, Louisiana, and Frank Crawford Fleming (Jill Bonti Fleming) of Dallas, Texas. Mary and Edwin were proud of their 10 grandchildren: Michael James McCullough, John Payne McCullough, Mark Alan Fleming, Kristin McCullough Beck, Suzanne Kathryn Fleming Cashen, Dr. Luke Winn Fleming, Sarah Winn Fleming, Alexander Crawford Fleming, Tyler Anderson Fleming, and Hillary Jean Hinson Scheurich.

She is survived by her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, her sisters-in-law: Lanair Grizzard Williams, Lavina Meekins Fleming, Alice Fleming Stultz, and Nell Fleming Boone, and a host of loving nieces and nephews, who will miss her phone calls. The family is grateful to special caregivers, Bernice Knight, Tammi Anderson, Lisa Ford, and Lisa Boyd Ford.

She really had only one hobby – people. She was a wonderful listener and genuinely interested in all sorts of diverse individuals. She and her husband would go on trips, meet people, and then she would keep up with them by phone and mail for years. Her other great love was her piano, but that was much more than a hobby for her. In 2002, after her husband had died, she left her home of 50 years in Dallas and moved to Richmond, Virginia, to live with her daughter Rosemary and Rosemary’s husband, Jim. She joined Trinity United Methodist Church, made friends at the church and in several music groups, and continued to play her piano and maintain her connection with countless friends and relatives, going annually to Dallas for extended visits.

Interment will be at Forest Park cemetery next to her husband in Greenville, Texas. Her life will be celebrated at a worship service at University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, at 2 p.m., September 1 and again on September 8, at 11 a.m., at Trinity United Methodist Church in Richmond, Virginia. Friends are encouraged to send memorials to any institution or cause which supports the advancement of knowledge, deepens spiritual life, or reaches out to those in need. Visit www.sparkman-hillcrest.com.