Nov. 17, 1935 – Oct. 23, 2013

MAGNOLIA — Joe B. Fleming, 77, who died suddenly Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, at Southwest Regional Medical Center in McComb, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home with the Rev. Rocco Pierce, of Hohenwald, Tenn., and the Rev. Chris Lockhart of McComb officiating.

Burial will follow at Pike Memorial Gardens under the direction of Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and 10 a.m. until service time Saturday.

He was born on Nov. 17, 1935, in Smithdale, the son of the late Ernest J. and Letha A. Nettles Fleming. He graduated from Natchez High School in 1954 and went on to join the Army National Guard’s 204th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Battery D., where he served as a corporal.

Mr. Fleming was a devoted husband to his late wife Katheryn Mayfield Fleming of 39 years. He was a Christian and longtime member of the McComb Church of Christ. He was a local business owner most of his life, owning Western Auto and Dixie Outlet Center in Magnolia. Mr. Fleming used his entrepreneurial spirit owning many other businesses over his lifetime, including Fleming Refrigeration Service, Dixie Bargain Center, Star Machine Company, Pine Ridge Grocery, Apollo Manufacturing Company, Fleming Family Store, State Wide Wholesale Company in Natchez, Fleming Center in Liberty, Dixie Roller Rink in Magnolia and Western Auto in Summit. Most recently, he retired from South Pike School District, where he was a Vo-tech instructor and was instrumental in pioneering the metal trades program where he set up a strict code of practice for his students to follow that set the ground work for the department.

He was also very inventive using his welding and building talents to create products and fix things that proved very useful to his family and friends. Mr. Fleming lived his life by these four principles, be like Jesus, get plenty of exercise, eat healthy and get plenty of rest. His life examples were his teachings and his wonderful laugh, which will be truly missed.

Mr. Fleming is preceded in death by his wife, Katheryn Mayfield Fleming, his parents and one son, Kelvin Fleming.

Survivors include his four sons, Kirby Fleming and wife, Patricia, of McComb, Elton Fleming of Columbia, Ralph Fleming and wife, JoAnn, of Texas and Ronnie Fleming of Natchez; three brothers, Russell Fleming of North Carolina, Clifton Fleming and wife, Joy, of Summit, Burt Fleming and wife, Kay, of Zachary; one sister, Linda Nelson of Smithdale; six grandchildren, Zachary Fleming, Jacob Fleming, Brent Fleming, Kyle Fleming, Michael Fleming and Taylor Fleming; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be the elders and deacons of McComb Church of Christ, A.J. Spring, Ken Jackson, Charlie Newlon, Jim Chatman, Chuck Barnes, Randy Clark and Blake Brewer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the daily bread program at McComb Church of Christ, 1111 Parklane Road, McComb, Ms. 39648.