Obituary - Mary Pease Fleming

Mary Pease Fleming of Richmond, Virginia passed away peacefully on January 20, 2025. She was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Rives Fleming, Jr. Rives and Mary embodied the love of family and friends and served as a role model for generations of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of what matters most in life. She is survived by her six children, Kate Parthemos (Stel), Conway Saylor (Bart), Martha Moore (Jay), Mimi McCully (Bob), Rives Fleming III (Suzanne), and Nene Dougherty (Danny), 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary was born on June 3, 1929, in Cincinnati, Ohio as the 4th child of Ellen Reiman Pease and James L. Pease. Her childhood was filled with happy times with her brothers Burton Rieman Pease (Betty) and James Lewis Pease, Jr. (Miriam and Bonnie), and her sisters Fanny Pease Smith (Duke) and Joan Pease Seasholes (Hank). Mary grew up around her large, loving extended Pease family on Winton Road, where she first developed her lifelong passion for music and enjoyed playing tennis in the backyard. Following high school, she broke family tradition and boarded a train to Sweet Briar College. While in college, she met Rives on a blind date, and they quickly fell in love.

Rives and Mary settled in Richmond following college and she worked at the Collegiate School teaching music. Her love for teaching music continued throughout her life. While very busy raising 6 children, she found time to play the piano for the Richmond Ballet and taught scores of kids and adults to play the piano out of her home, many of whom were lucky enough to make it into the “Know a Note” club. Mary also co-founded the Richmond Symphony League and sang in “CAFUR”. Mary’s love of music impacted so many, whether singing and performing herself, hosting countless piano recitals for her students, or playing the piano over and over again to entertain her children and grandchildren. She was also a reader, avid walker, quilter, gardener, tennis player, golfer, competitive (though she would never admit it) Scrabbler, UVa basketball fan, and Girl Scout cookie mom.

Peaso, as she was known to family members and friends, was devoted to her husband Rivo, as well as the extended Fleming and Pease families. She was happiest surrounded by her family and friends and was a gracious hostess. Whether sharing frequent family dinners, attending the Nutcracker with family (and clapping a little too loudly for the black sheep), or burying her toes in the sand at Virginia Beach, she never missed a chance to connect with her loved ones.

Our family would like to thank all the wonderful people at Cedarfield and Brightstar, as well as Carol, Kayla, and Evelyn for all the love and care they gave to Mom in the final months of her life.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25 at St Stephen’s Episcopal Church followed by a graveside service at Hollywood Cemetery. A reception at the Country Club of Virginia Westhampton Clubhouse will follow the graveside service.

Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to The Collegiate School, 103 N. Mooreland Rd, Richmond, VA 23229 or The Richmond Ballet, Attn: Riley Yetter, 407 East Canal Street, Richmond, VA 23219.