We are all descendants of Nat Fleming's son, Walker who was born on October 31, 1884. Walker grew to be a very intelligent young man. Many considered him an expert in mathematics. Walker attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas and at the age of 23, married Rachel Booth on January 7, 1907. They gave birth to five children, Frankie, Lottie, Alexander, Earnestine and Arndell. Rachel assisted with the family finances, the farming, and the care of the family. As a young girl, she left home to live with a family in Forrest City, Arkansas and attend Lincoln High School. As the years passed, Rachel developed an illness and passed away at age 29 on April 9, 1918.
53rd Fleming Family Reunion
Faith Moves Mountains
The Fleming Family Story
Like many African Americans we are not sure of our origin in America. However, we can document the start of our family in 1835 with the birth of Mariah. According to the 1870 census, Nat Fleming age six was residing with his mother Mariah 35, his sister Malinda 17, and his brother eight year old Judson in Ripley, Tippah County, Mississippi. The census report indicates that Mariah was born in Alabama and it characterizes the family as Mulattos. The census also reveals that Mariah had lived in Mississippi for at least 17 years for her daughter Malinda was born in Mississippi around 1853. We learn from oral family history that Mariah was married to Oliver Fleming and had been sent or sold to Mississippi.
In 1878 Mariah’s daughter Malinda marries Henry Leatherwood and migrates to Arkansas. Later, the couple has several children.
By the 1880 census Mariah is recorded as residing with an older son Allen who is characterized as being of Ethiopian decent. The household also includes her sons Nat and Walker.
Hence our story begins 184 years ago with the birth of Mariah in 1835. According to the 1910 census, Nat Fleming
was born in 1861, in Ripley Mississippi. Born a slave, Nat learned that in order to survive, he had to develop his talents. Nat became an excellent musician. He played the pedal organ and the banjo. He traveled throughout the community displaying his enormous musical talents. Nat married Lucinda and fathered five children: Willie, Walker, Pearlie, Allen and Jenny. Nat supported his family by horse trading, while Lucinda worked as a domestic.
During the Reconstruction period, the entire south became a very dangerous place for black people (ex-slaves). In many cases, they had more to fear as free people, than when they were slaves. The southern whites that had lost the Civil War were not about to forget a lifestyle that was cherished by the wealthy and upper classes of whites. This class of people had grown rich and powerful from the free labor of slaves. Even, the lower class of whites felt that they must do all in their power to destroy a race of people for even thinking of the concept of freedom. Due to this mind set, thousands of families were broken up and sometimes destroyed.
The Fleming Family was one of the thousands. According to oral history, due to a confrontation between the boys and a white family, Nat and Walker were instructed to leave Mississippi for their safety. All of their possessions were loaded in wagons and a buggy. Nat's wife Lucinda drove the buggy. The number of children traveling with Nat, Lucinda and Walker is unclear, but the family took flight out of Mississippi.
The next morning, the family had arrived in Memphis, Tennessee where the brothers decided to split up. Walker Fleming took his family somewhere in Tennessee while Nat Fleming crossed the Mississippi River into Arkansas and settled in Brinkley Arkansas, approximately 70 miles from the river. Later, Nat, Lucinda and the children moved to Lakeside, a city in eastern Arkansas.
At the time of the 1910 census, records indicate that Nat Fleming age 68 living in Madison, St. Francis County, Arkansas and his brother- in- law Henry Leatherwood was a member of the household.
Nat’s daughter Jenny married Henry Johnson and settled in Eastern Arkansas while his daughter Pearlie migrated to Detroit, Michigan. After Lucinda's death, Nat moved to Detroit also. He eventually settled in a suburb, Hamtramck, and purchased several parcels of land.
Walker Fleming, Sr., lovingly called; "Papa." was also a farmer, mason, musician and contractor. Because of his superb mathematical ability, he was able to perfectly cut shingles and cross ties. As the depression swept across the United States, Walker Sr. engaged in other jobs to support the family. These jobs included painting, fencing, building and molasses making. In 1919, Walker Fleming, Sr. married Angie (Babe) Williams Sisk. Angie had two children from a previous marriage: Roosevelt and Beatrice Sisk. She was a proud member of the Williams’ Clan and the beloved daughter of Fenner and Charity ( Crudup) Williams.
Papa and Angie took on the task of merging the children into one big happy family. Added to this family were Walker, Jr., Lillie, Rebecca, Roscoe, and Joy Mae. Angie was active in Prosperity Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher and a Church Clerk. Angie loved and cared for her children until her death in October 1956. Papa was active in Prosperity Baptist and St. John Baptist Churches. He served in many capacities in the church including Deacon and Choir Director. In those days, he was known as the Choral leader. This appreciation for music was passed on to his 53 grandchildren and 100+ great, great, great, great grandchildren. Walker Fleming, Sr. lived to be 81 years old and passed away in July 1965.
Frankie Fleming Sykes was the first born child of Walker and Rachel Fleming born January 9, 1909, near Madison, Arkansas. Frankie attended St. Francis County Public Schools. After completing her formal education, she married Leroy Sykes and moved to Gary, Indiana. Frankie was employed as a machine operator. In her free time, she loved to fish, garden, and cook. She was a hard worker and very business minded. Frankie was also a faithful member of the New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. She was an active member of the following ministries: the Sunday School, Baptist Standard Training School, Birthday Club, Pastor‘s Aid Club, and the Mother’s Board. She was also head of the church kitchen. Frankie had no children, but remained concerned about the welfare of the entire family and contributed her help to others. As the oldest child, she nurtured all of her siblings, nieces, and nephews, until her death on August 2, 1991.
Lottie was the second child of Walker and Rachel Fleming, Sr. born on March 28, 1911. She was funny and loving child. She professed a hope in Christ at an early age and was a faithful member of St. John Baptist Church. On November 11, 1928, she married Cleotis Pye, who was a farmer. Lottie and Cleotis had six loving children: Otis, Liz, Hazel, Elvin, Geraldine, and Bobby. They settled their family in Madison, Arkansas spending many laborious days working in the field to provide for their children. These children have gone on to provide comfortable lives for themselves and their children
Lottie was a loving Christian mother and a church member in the Madison Community. She provided maternal leadership to the Fleming Family in Arkansas for many years until her death, December 3, 1998. Though gone from this walk of life her memory lives on through a host of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The measure of a man may be in giant recorded accomplishments, in glowing praise from his fellowman, or in posterity that remains as a legacy to his memory after he is gone. This kind of measure would be for Alexander Fleming Sr. He was fondly known as dad, Alex, brother, Uncle Alex and he never used the names Nathaniel or Emanuel unless he was in a particularly jovial mood. Alexander (Alex) Sr. was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas on April 13, 1913, in a rural area of Madison. He lived and matured south of Madison. In 1936, twenty-three –year-old Alex married seventeen-year-old Jessie Mae Johnson. After their union, nine children were born. First a son, who bore his name, was thought of as Junior by the family but became Alex. A second son followed, Frankie Lee, but died in infancy. Dollie was the apple of daddy’s eye, until the age of twelve when the family added twins Ima and Billy. The family grew rapidly in size with the addition of Ardell, Linda, Seamon, and Albert. At the time of the depression, Alex Sr. uprooted his family and moved to Detroit. However, the North Mecca was not his Mecca, so he returned to Madison, Arkansas, which remained his home. Alex Sr. was employed in various occupations to provide a living for his family. Eventually, he worked at the railroad, as a field laborer, night watchman, and janitor. In religious capacity, he attended St. John Missionary Baptist Church in his youth and Macedonian M.B. Church in his later life. Alex Sr. immersed himself in his family because for him “family was everything.” He believed that a family should remain close, and it was very crucial for a person to keep in touch with their family. Alexander Fleming Sr. departed this earth April 21, 1983, but his legacy lives on through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. His wife, Jessie Mae, transitioned September 28, 1983.
