Dorothy Elizabeth Miller Fleming

On December 20, 2012, the heavens rejoiced in welcoming Dorothy Fleming to God’s eternal celebration. She brought her beautiful alto voice to the heavenly choir, her tremendous skill in teaching small children to the heavenly nursery, and her wonderful talents in art and crafts to creating murals and providing worshipful presentations to God’s heavenly temple. “Dottie” was born on December 30, 1937, in Philadelphia, PA and grew up in the East Greenville, PA area. She graduated from Upper Perkiomen High School in 1956 and worked as a nursing assistant at the Allentown Hospital prior to joining the military. Dorothy proudly served in the United States Air Force at Keesler AFB as a surgical nurse technician. While serving at Keesler she attended Trinity Baptist Church and met a stunning young Airman who stole her heart and soon thereafter wedding bells rang. Dorothy, “Dot”, was the beloved wife of James, “Jim”, Fleming of Gulfport, MS for 54 years and the loving mother of Laura Rhoades and her husband Mike of Fairfield, PA, Stan Fleming and his wife Denise of Colorado Springs, CO, and Cindy Cannette and her husband Larry of Elkridge, MD. She was known as “Nana” to 8 grandchildren--April, Shannon, Nathan, Melissa, Matt, Megan, Jennifer, and Aimee. She was “Great-Nana” to 9 great-grandchildren with two more soon to be born. “Dottie” was also sister to Faith Schantz and her husband Richard of Harleysville, PA, and cousin to Marianne Miller of East Greenville, PA. She was preceded into heaven by her parents, Isaac and Dorothy Miller, an infant brother John, and her granddaughter, Gabrielle Fleming. Dorothy, affectionately known as “Miss Dot,” was a member of Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Gulfport where she provided years of service in Children’s Church programs, Vacation Bible Schools, Sunday Schools and Adult Choirs. In addition, she served as a pre-school and kindergarten teacher at Trinity Baptist Church Kindergarten. Dorothy later worked as a nursing assistant at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Biloxi for several years. Although her presence and talents will be greatly missed here on this earth, her legacy of love and service will be carried on in the hearts and lives of all those who learned through her example, who grew through her teaching, and who were touched in very meaningful ways through her involvement, encouragement, and support in their lives. The Fleming family would like to express their deepest appreciation to the compassionate staff of Stone County Hospital in Wiggins, MS, who provided very loving care to Dorothy during her final week here on this earth. They would also like to thank her friends and caregivers at the CHF Clinic at Biloxi Regional Hospital who became part of her family for two years of treatment. Together, you brought smiles and warmth to both Dot and her family during some very challenging times. Your professionalism and great love for your patients sets you apart, and for that your patients and the Fleming family are eternally grateful. A special time of remembering will be held on Wednesday evening, December 26, at the Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport from 6 -8 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, December 27, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, 2301 23rd Avenue, Gulfport, MS with internment at Biloxi National Cemetery to immediately follow. A visitation period at 10:00 a.m. will precede the memorial service. The Fleming family requests that in lieu of flowers, please send any donations in memory of Dot Fleming to Grace Memorial Baptist Church for their Senior Adult Ministry. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com