The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-07-17

AT half-past ten o'clock last Mon
day morning, July l3, 1896, in the
8lst year of his age, Judge William
s. Fleming entered into rest. The
funeral services were conducted by
Rev. f. B. Webb, at the First Pres
byterian Church, at 3 o'clock Tues
day afternoon. Burial at Zion
Church Cemetery, near where he
was born, and by the side of loved
ones, gone before him years ago.
He was born April %, 1915, and
was the eldest son of Thomas +. and
Margaret Armstrong Fleming, who
came to this county from South Car
DINA, in 1905. In 1893 he graduated
at Yale College. Returning home
he taught school for a short while,
and while teaching began the study
of law, and in 1912 began the prac-
tice, and Immediately attracted at
tention by his eloquence and the
force of his logical reasoning. In
1870 he was elected Chancellor of
this the 9Th Chancery division, and
served for sixteen years, being re-
elected in 1878, his last term eXpir-
ing in 1886; since which time he has
enjoyed his books and the sweet
companionship of loved ones at
home, and the fruits of a well-spent
life.
Judge Fleming was married three
times. September 5, 1899, he was
united in marriage to Miss Frances
Stephenson, who died j.. 1919. BY
this union there were six children,
three of whom died in infancy; a
daughter, Miss Florence, reached
womanhood and married Col. d. B,
Cooper, and then passed away leay-
ing three children, Mrs. Charles
Burch, Flaw and Del Cooper; the
other two, Mrs. Albert Dobbins OF
this county, and Mr.. T. +. Fleming
of Columbia, are still living.
In 1854 he married Miss Mary
WitherspOon Frierson, who died in
1858, leaving no children.
In 1860 he was united in marriage
to Mrs. Ruth Johnson Booker, and
after 30 years of happy married
life, in 1889, death again robbed him
of a sweet, devoted companion. The
only surviving child of this union is
w. S. Fleming, Esq, an active prac-
titiOner and honored member of the
Columbia bar.
Judge Fleming had been in failing
health for more than a year. He
had no special disease, no pain, but
gradually grew weaker and weaker
until, ripe in years, full of honors,
at peace with God and without an
enemy on earth, he went to sleep in
the arms of his Savior.
His life and his character is ar
open book to this people. "a com
bination, and form, indeed, where
ever God did seem to set his seal, tc
give the world assurance of a Man.
He was scholarly, he was courteous
he was charitable, he was merciful
he was Just, he was kind. Next t.
his God he loved his fellowman. Nc
man could have a heart so mean as
to bear him malice, for he bore nc
malice toward mortal man, In pub
lie life he betrayed no trust, in
private thinking he harbOred NO
wrong. His soft answers turned
away wrath his presence was {
benediction, his life a blessing to all
with whom he came in contact. No
eulogy can do simple Justice to his
memory. What might be etfusivC
fulsomeness if said of others, woulC
be but a poor tribute to the match
less sweetness of his disposition.
To this most beautiful of all trait:
and his most prominent virtue, hi
added the attachments of cultured
courteous, scholarly, christian gen
tleman. For thirty-three years h
was ruling elder in the First Pres
byterian Church For nearly the
same length of time he was one o
! the foremost lawyers at this bar. A
! Chancellor, there was not cOntem
porary in the State whose decisions
commanded more respect in tn,
higher court. AS an orator in hi
'paImy days, he had few superiors
and as an advocate he was at hi
best. He was too big to be jealous
too broad to be enviOus, too benigi
To forget the ineXDerience of yOunpe