Mr. Billy Ray Fleming, 79, passed away on Sunday, April 29, 2012, at St. Dominic Hospital inJackson, Mississippi. Visitation will be at Nowell-Massey Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi, on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Visitation will also be held at Calvary Baptist Church on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, from 1 p.m. until service time. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at Calvary Baptist Church in Louisville, Mississippi, with Rev. Ricky McKay and Rev. Trent Jaudon officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Fleming was born January 30, 1933. He was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, where he sang in the church choir. He was a graduate of Louisville High School, Class of 1952, having also attended schools in Porterville, Okolona, and Scooba. In 1954, he graduated from East Central Junior College (now East Central Community College) in Decatur, Mississippi, with an Associate of Arts (A. A.) degree in Business Administration. In 1959, Mr. Fleming graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science (B. S.) degree in Business Administration. He then graduated from Mississippi State University in 1975 with a Master of Science (M. S.) degree in Business Education. Mr. Fleming had basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Camp Chaffee,Arkansas. He served in the United States Artillery with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii and was assigned to the 69th Field Artillery Battalion. He retired to Louisville in July, 1988, after 27 years as a Business Education teacher in Cobb County, Georgia.
Mr. Fleming is survived by four sisters: Virginia Mitchell of Louisville, Mississippi; Laverne McKay of Murrayville, Georgia; Eula Betts and husband, Ted, of Southaven, Mississippi; and Gloria Cade and husband, Wallace, of Starkville, Mississippi. He is also survived by four brothers: Ernest Fleming and wife, Martha; Bobby Fleming and wife, Sheila; and Joe Fleming and wife, Agnes, all of Louisville, Mississippi; and Terry Fleming and wife, Judy, of Philadelphia, Mississippi; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Mr. Fleming is preceded in death by his parents, Owens Paulette Fleming, Sr. and Linzie Danner Fleming; and his brothers, Owens Paulette Fleming, Jr., and Bobby Gene Fleming.
Pallbearers will be Mike Mitchell, Ronnie Mitchell, Scotty Fleming, Lee Fleming, Wally Cade, and Mark Fleming. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Men’s Sunday School class and the Deacons of Calvary Baptist Church. Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children’s ResearchHospital, Tribute Program, P. O. Box 1000 Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142; or to The Baptist Children's Village, P. O. Box 27, Clinton, MS 39060-0027; or to Calvary Baptist Church, c/o Jo Ellen Johnson, 4109 Old Robinson Road, Louisville, MS 39339. Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS is handling the arrangements. You may sign the guestbook atwww.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.