Johnnie Ray Fleming

“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 A Time to Be Born: Johnie Ray Fleming, affectionately known as “Buck” was born the oldest child to the late Elmer Purvis and the late Lillian Hazel Fleming on May 6, 1940 in Robersonville, NC. A Time to Learn & Leisure: Johnie received his early education in the Pitt County area schools. He was introduced to the game of baseball. Playing with a local team, Johnie excelled as a third baseman. He played and succeeded against future major leaguers during his time in Eastern North Carolina. His love of baseball continued after he moved north. His favorite team as an adult was the NY Mets. He found pleasures in many things, but the things he loved most included cooking, fishing, playing cards and entertaining family and friends. The favorite thing he loved to do with his mother-in-law Lola Nelson was fishing. They would spend hours at a time fishing. A Time to Work & Serve: As a teenager, Johnie worked as a farm laborer later moving on to work in local warehouses and the Purdue Poultry plant prior to relocating to Brooklyn, NY. Thereafter he spent 38 years working as a machine operator at Delta Corrugated in New Jersey, until his health started to decline. He was a member of Brownsville Community Baptist Church, while living in Brooklyn, NY and later joined Mount Hope Baptist Church of Fredericksburg, VA. A Time to Love: Johnie was a very loving and kind man. He met his beautiful wife Frances in 1989, in Brooklyn, NY, and married a few years later. After her retirement in 2009, Johnie moved with his wife to Stafford, VA to be closer to their children and grandchildren. A Time to Die: Johnie transitioned from labor to reward on Saturday, May 23, 2020. A Time to Mourn: He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Frances, of the home as well as his children: Billie Fleming, Cynthia Williams (Willie), Sabrina Nelson, and Edward D. Nelson (Stephany). His son, Gregory Garfield preceded him in transition. His siblings Benjamin Earl Fleming, William Fleming (Yvonne), Teresa Fleming, and Regina Fleming Wade (Byron) will hold him close in their hearts and memories. His legacy continues through his six grand-children Daryl K. Gousby, Patrick O. McDonald, Jr., Jahnae V. Hutton, Sabrea P. Nelson, DaVaughn Nelson, and DaShauna Nelson; his two sisters-in-law, Inez Evans (Nehemiah) and Dollie Nelson, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Ecclesiastes 3:14 “I know that everything that God does endures forever.”