The Rev. Dr. Charlton Alvin Fleming, 89, of Elgin, died Wednesday, January 23, 2013. Born September 6, 1923, in Laurens County, SC, he was a son of the late James Wesley Fleming and Mary Lollis Fleming. Alvin married Onie Irene Davenport on July 3, 1944. They recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary.

In May of 1950 Brother Alvin was born into God's family. Within three years of receiving Christ, he was traveling and singing as part of a duet known as "The Happy Two", first with Brother Lee Bishop, then with Brother Robert Patton. Alvin surrendered to God's call to preach and eventually was called as the minister of Alpine Baptist Church in October 1960. When he began his ministry there, it was a small country church, but grew under his leadership and completed the new church sanctuary, the C.A. Fleming Auditorium, in 1978. He retired as senior pastor in 1997 and served as Pastor Emeritus until his passing.

He was ordained at Winona Baptist Church, Donalds, SC, in December 1960. He graduated from Fruitland Bible College, Hendersonville, NC, Class of 1965. Pastor Fleming received Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Tabernacle Baptist Church College, Greenville, SC, on May 13, 1989, Bellmeadows Baptist Church College, Bristol, TN, on April 25, 1997, and West End Baptist Bible College, Easley, SC, on April 21, 2001.

When his health forced his retirement from the pastorate, Dr. Fleming kept busy traveling, singing and preaching the "old time way". God opened many doors and used Brother Alvin to spread the old-fashioned gospel message through many parts of the country.

Survivors include his wife, Onie Davenport Fleming of Elgin; daughter, Linda Gale (Freddie) Peake; son, Roger Dale (Carolyn) Fleming; grandchildren, Roger Dale Fleming, Jr., Brian Alvin (Debra) Peake, Kimberly Carol (Victor) Talbot, Brandon Dale (Brianna) Fleming, and Chealtsy Fleming, all of Lugoff; and great grandchildren, Whitney Kay Fleming, Courtney Ann Fleming, and Kyle Talbot. In addition to his parents, Alvin was preceded in death by his siblings, Allie Mae Thompson, Ethel Hughes, Dale Fleming and Ruby Baldwin.

Pastor Fleming's family will receive friends from 4 until 7 o'clock, Friday evening at Alpine Baptist Church, 4930 Alpine Rd., Columbia. The funeral service will be held 1 o'clock, Saturday, January 26th, also at Alpine Baptist Church, with The Rev. W.L. Gladden, The Rev. Leon Porter, The Rev. Ray Stewart and The Rev. Richard Sawyer officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family for a meal in the church fellowship hall following the interment.

Serving as pallbearers will be Roger Dale Fleming, Jr., Brandon Dale Fleming, Gary Goff, Jeremy Johnson, Bradley Nealy, and Steve McKelvy. The Men of Alpine Baptist Church and all fellow ministers in attendance are invited to serve as honorary pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to Alpine Baptist Church, PO Box 24948, Columbia, SC 29223.