November 8, 1941 – April 15, 2025
Rev. Dr. Joe Billy Fleming peacefully entered eternal rest on Tuesday morning at 10:33 a.m., receiving the peace he had prayed for just a day earlier. Born November 8, 1941, in Holdenville, Oklahoma, Joe Billy was the ninth of eleven children born to Deacon John Alfred and Rosetta Mence Fleming. His early c
ommitment to education led him to graduate from Bishop College in Dallas, Texas, in 1963, and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology in Richmond, Virginia, in 1967. He further enriched his theological foundation at United Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and the School of Religion at Boston University.
During his sophomore year in 1961, Joe Billy joined the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at Bishop College when it was located in Marshall, Texas. His leadership, was evident early on when he, alongside two fraternity brothers from Gamma Chapter, led students from Bishop College and Wiley College in efforts to desegregate public facilities in Marshall. Joe Billy’s unwavering commitment to justice resulted in his arrest during the Black Students sit-in for U.S. Civil Rights in Marshall, Texas, in 1960. Five months after his arrest, the cases against him and 34 other protesters were dismissed following the tragic death of a fellow student in a car accident.
Joe Billy’s ministerial journey began during his studies at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, when he started serving at Antioch Baptist Church in Susan, Virginia. On Friday, July 10, 1964, at Greater St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, Rev. Dr. Joe Billy Fleming married his college sweetheart Johnnie Mitchell. To this union were added three children.
From 1964 to 1969, he served as the beloved pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, accomplishing remarkable achievements during his tenure. Under his guidance, the church successfully paid off its mortgage and hired its first Minister of Christian Education, Rev. D. E. Love. Pastor Fleming also oversaw an extensive church renovation project in 1968 that included the installation of a baptistery pool, a new mural, new doors, acoustic ceiling, plastered walls, tiled restrooms, and new light fixtures at a cost of $29,000. The congregation deeply cherished his leadership until he tendered his resignation on August 17, 1969, during the church’s Homecoming celebration.
During his impactful tenure from 1969 to 1981 in Richmond, Virginia, as pastor of the Quioccasin Baptist Church, he simultaneously served as Director of Community Organization, Richmond Community Action Program, and the Director of Training and Planning for a multi-million dollar social agency for twelve years. His community leadership included serving as President of the Henrico Branch of the NAACP and the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Richmond and vicinity, as well as board memberships with Meals-on-Wheels and the American Red Cross.
In 1981, Joe Billy began his most enduring pastoral role when he became the 8th pastor of Third Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia. He faithfully served this congregation for thirty-five years until his retirement on November 30, 2016, after which he was honored as the church’s first Pastor Emeritus.
His extensive community service in the Portsmouth area included roles as the 44th President of what is now the Metro Ministers Conference of Virginia, Inc., President of the Portsmouth Branch of the NAACP, chairman and member of the Electoral Board for the City of Portsmouth for thirteen years, and board member for the Southeastern Red Cross and the Urban League of Hampton Roads. He also served as chairman of the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army of Portsmouth, board member of the Center for Community Development, Inc., and was a founding member and past president of the Martin Luther King Leadership Steering Committee of Portsmouth. His dedication extended to roles as Commissioner of the Virginia Port Authority and as chair and board member of the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Joe Billy’s service was recognized with numerous honors, including a 2011 Humanitarian Award for Hampton Roads from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, “Pastor of the Year” by the Tidewater Metro Baptist Ministers’ Conference, and the 2012 Grassroots Volunteer for the Commonwealth of Virginia for the 3rd Congressional District.
Joe Billy was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, sisters Mary Fleming, Jean Moss, and Wanda Johnson, and brothers James, Earl, Donald, John, and Lee. Joe Billy leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 60 years, Johnnie Mitchell Fleming; his son, Kelton C. Fleming (Veronica) of San Jose, California; daughter, Zina Fleming Hall of Houston, Texas; and son, Joseph A. Fleming, who succeeded him as the 9th Senior Pastor of Third Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia. “Buddy,” as he was affectionately known, also leaves four grandchildren: Ahmir Hall, Ashley Hall, Adrienne Hall, and Laila Fleming.
Additionally, Joe Billy is survived by his sisters Sammye Jackson of Omaha, Nebraska, and Bee Be (Robert) Telfair of Virginia Beach, Virginia; sisters-in-law Thelma Fleming of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Rosia Fleming of Austin, Texas, Gladys Fleming of Richmond, Virginia, and Robbie Fleming of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and brother and sisters-in-law Earl (Rose) Mitchell of Rochester, New York, Martha (Bill) Williams and Mary Johnson of Fort Worth, Texas, and Toy Royal of Fort Worth, Texas. He’s also survived by a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Psalm 4:8: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, 0 LORD, make me dwell in safety.”