FLEMING, LENARD CLINTON, SR. (AGE 57) OF WASHINGTON, DC

I am so pleased that you are here today to share in my memorial celebration.  Please know that I thank God for allowing me to be with you guys for some 20,974 days; that's a long time. I am grateful for the relationship I had with each of you.  My motto in life has always been "If I can help somebody along the way, then my living will not be in vain".

I was birthed by the late Eleanor and Henry Fleming and entered this life on June 29, 1960.  I was the youngest born of five (5) siblings and that's how I hold the title of the baby of the family.   I was educated in the public schools of the District of Columbia.  I graduated from Giddings Elementary, Randall Jr. High and Eastern High school.  Our family was not a one of many means, so we moved around a lot.  We lived in various sections of the city, NE, NW, SW, SE.  We grew up knowing that God was real, and we became members of the Zion Hill Baptist Church where I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal savior under the spiritual leadership of the late Pastor Lester James Sr.

During and after graduating high school, I secured so many jobs.  Just to name a few, I worked on the local neighborhood ice cream truck, at the Washington Star and Washington Post.  My family was one who liked to eat good food; probably in part because our dad was a chef.  I always thought, one day I could do that for a living.  I began to seek other employment and eventually started working at various foodie places.  I worked at Burger Delight, the International House of Pancakes (IHOP), O'Donnell's Seafood Restaurant, American University (cooking in the cafeteria) and my final place of employment was at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (cooking in the cafeteria).  It brought a sense of satisfaction to cook and see how much people enjoyed it.

I would say that the most memorial times were made when we lived in Southeast.  We lived in Arthur Capper Dwellings ( Public Housing). I joined the esteemed Stonewalls Baseball Team.  The memories I made with some of you sitting in this room were priceless.  Me along with some of my siblings became members of the renowned Andrew Cacho African Drummers and Dancers. I was a drummer, we traveled around the city performing and making music that put a smile on people's face.

Along my way in life, my greatest accomplishment was in 1980 when the Lord blessed me with my most prized treasure, my son -  Lenard Fleming Jr. (Manny).   He was the joy of my life.  He was a bouncing baby boy, a courageous child and a handsome young man who took his good looks after me.  He is my legacy and a strong representation of the "Fleming Clan."  Yes, southeast holds many memories for me.  I met and married the late Shirley Campbell Fleming.  Together somehow with all the cares of the world, we successfully raised six (6) children (5 boys and one girl).   The Brady Bunch didn't have anything on us.  The fun times we shared from cookouts, parties, family reunions, trips and more created a loving environment.  I had the distinct honor and pleasure to care for the late pastor of Holy Cross PBS, Rev. Dr. Stella V. Mack (aunt of Shirley) when she was ill.   I really relished in helping and caring for her.  Under her anointed powerful leadership, I grew spiritual and rededicated my life to the Lord.

I enjoyed being laid back and the simple things in life.  A few of my favorite things were football (diehard Redskin fan (win or lose), the Senators aka (Nationals), and the Bullets (Wizards).  I would take my son Manny along with all my children, nieces and nephews to the baseball games.  We shared quality time together as a family.

Years passed, and all the children grew up, time spent with God, family and friends became my number one priority.  The family bond grew stronger. Because of some unwise choices; I made a conscious decision to relocate to Chicago. To say the least, it was difficult to leave my family but during my residency there; I grew more spiritually astute, morally conscience with a renewed understanding of valuable life changing values. I returned to Washington DC.  with a new zeal for the Lord and even more of an understanding of family values.

Upon my return to the area, I joined the Spirit of Faith Christian Center (SOFCC).  I grew strong in the Lord and in the Power of His might.  I was a faithful student in Bible study.  I took my assignment as an usher (door keeper) very serious.  On-a-daily basis, I witnessed and extended invitations for others to come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.

I'm smiling when I share about my very special niece Kabrena (Dean Dean) she and I established a relationship which was second to none. She not only was my bible study partner, confidant, prayer partner, nutritionist, she became my caregiver.  We shared an unwavering love for each other

Viewing 10:00am until time of Service 11:00am,on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Zion Hill Baptist Church 841 Shepherd Street, NW, Washington, D.C.  Interment, Heritage Memorial Cemetery, Waldorf, MD.