Obituary for Homer Maxwell Fletcher
Homer Maxwell Fletcher Sr., 90, died peacefully at his home Oct. 9, 2018.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the United Methodist Church in Greensboro. The family will receive friends before the service in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30 a.m.
Mr. Max, as he was known to everyone, was a Greensboro native. He was the youngest of eight children, born to Thomas Bertelle Fletcher and Elvira Heintz Fletcher on Sept. 25, 1928. A large, loving family, he and his siblings grew up working hard, studying hard, and playing hard.
Mr. Max graduated in three years from the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, which he fondly called the Cow College. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society and belonged to the Kappa Alpha fraternity.
After college, he married his Quincy sweetheart, Kathryn McFarlin, on March 1, 1951. Mr. Max then enlisted and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953, rising to the rank of staff sergeant. He lived the Marine motto in everything he did in his life: Semper fidelis, or “always faithful.”
In 1953, he returned to Greensboro to farm the land of his ancestors, lovingly raise his own family, and serve his community.
A lifelong learner, Mr. Max approached all of his endeavors with a mix of science and intuition, coaxing successful crops from the earth and starting over when nature had other ideas. Mr. Max grew shade tobacco—in addition to other crops such as soybeans and corn—and raised cattle. He also ran the family’s sugar cane field and mill, which produced cane syrup sold in the family business, Fletcher Company. When the tobacco business died in the 1970s, he carefully researched alternatives and was among the first to grow tomatoes commercially in the area. His home gardens were legend; he loved growing new vegetable varieties, especially if it was something Miss Kathryn requested. He shared his bounty with those around him. When asked later in life, Mr. Max said he most enjoyed growing things people could eat.
He never officially retired. Mr. Max oversaw the transition of most of the land to tree farming, so the family’s legacy could continue. He was meticulous in making sure bridges were intact and roads mowed and passable.
Mr. Max was devoted to his community, following the example set by his parents and older siblings. As a young man, he taught the young adults class at the United Methodist Church Sunday School. He was a volunteer firefighter in Greensboro for more than 50 years, most of them as chief, and sought training and equipment to modernize the department. Mr. Max also served on the Greensboro Town Council for 34 years, the last 21 years as the town clerk. He was instrumental in helping to expand water service to the surrounding area.
He was a devoted husband and father, raising and educating four children with much love, discipline, and a great deal of humor. A voracious reader, he had a wry sense of humor that was charming and a range of knowledge that was inspiring.
Mr. Max is predeceased by his wife of more than 55 years, Kathryn McFarlin Fletcher, and his son, Homer Maxwell Fletcher Jr.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Drs. Jack M. Fletcher and Patricia McEnery of Houston; daughters and sons-in-law Elizabeth and Stephen Kidd of Katy, Texas, and Clara Fletcher and Craig Branson of Reston, Virginia; daughter-in-law Cynthia Frye of Orlando; grandchildren Grace Fletcher De Niear and husband Dr. Matthew De Niear of Nashville, Tennessee; Meredith McFarlin Fletcher of Houston; Kathryn Suzanne Kidd of Phoenix; William Fletcher Kidd of Katy, Texas; Anna Fletcher Provencher and husband Sam Provencher of Orlando; H. Maxwell Fletcher III of Tallahassee; Thomas Bertelle Fletcher IV of Orlando; Margaret Annette McCormick, and Hale Fletcher Branson of Reston, Virginia. He was blessed with one great-granddaughter, Sara Kathryn Provencher, whom he called the “baby princess.” He was thankful for his gracious caregiver, Michelle Weatherspoon, and his farm co-worker, Jerome Oliver.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Max Fletcher Hurricane Recovery Fund, Town of Greensboro, Box 66, Greensboro, FL 32330. Charles McClellan Funeral Home in Quincy (850-627-7677) is handling arrangements.
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A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the United Methodist Church in Greensboro. The family will receive friends before the service in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30 a.m.
Mr. Max, as he was known to everyone, was a Greensboro native. He was the youngest of eight children, born to Thomas Bertelle Fletcher and Elvira Heintz Fletcher on Sept. 25, 1928. A large, loving family, he and his siblings grew up working hard, studying hard, and playing hard.
Mr. Max graduated in three years from the University of Florida College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, which he fondly called the Cow College. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society and belonged to the Kappa Alpha fraternity.
After college, he married his Quincy sweetheart, Kathryn McFarlin, on March 1, 1951. Mr. Max then enlisted and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953, rising to the rank of staff sergeant. He lived the Marine motto in everything he did in his life: Semper fidelis, or “always faithful.”
In 1953, he returned to Greensboro to farm the land of his ancestors, lovingly raise his own family, and serve his community.
A lifelong learner, Mr. Max approached all of his endeavors with a mix of science and intuition, coaxing successful crops from the earth and starting over when nature had other ideas. Mr. Max grew shade tobacco—in addition to other crops such as soybeans and corn—and raised cattle. He also ran the family’s sugar cane field and mill, which produced cane syrup sold in the family business, Fletcher Company. When the tobacco business died in the 1970s, he carefully researched alternatives and was among the first to grow tomatoes commercially in the area. His home gardens were legend; he loved growing new vegetable varieties, especially if it was something Miss Kathryn requested. He shared his bounty with those around him. When asked later in life, Mr. Max said he most enjoyed growing things people could eat.
He never officially retired. Mr. Max oversaw the transition of most of the land to tree farming, so the family’s legacy could continue. He was meticulous in making sure bridges were intact and roads mowed and passable.
Mr. Max was devoted to his community, following the example set by his parents and older siblings. As a young man, he taught the young adults class at the United Methodist Church Sunday School. He was a volunteer firefighter in Greensboro for more than 50 years, most of them as chief, and sought training and equipment to modernize the department. Mr. Max also served on the Greensboro Town Council for 34 years, the last 21 years as the town clerk. He was instrumental in helping to expand water service to the surrounding area.
He was a devoted husband and father, raising and educating four children with much love, discipline, and a great deal of humor. A voracious reader, he had a wry sense of humor that was charming and a range of knowledge that was inspiring.
Mr. Max is predeceased by his wife of more than 55 years, Kathryn McFarlin Fletcher, and his son, Homer Maxwell Fletcher Jr.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Drs. Jack M. Fletcher and Patricia McEnery of Houston; daughters and sons-in-law Elizabeth and Stephen Kidd of Katy, Texas, and Clara Fletcher and Craig Branson of Reston, Virginia; daughter-in-law Cynthia Frye of Orlando; grandchildren Grace Fletcher De Niear and husband Dr. Matthew De Niear of Nashville, Tennessee; Meredith McFarlin Fletcher of Houston; Kathryn Suzanne Kidd of Phoenix; William Fletcher Kidd of Katy, Texas; Anna Fletcher Provencher and husband Sam Provencher of Orlando; H. Maxwell Fletcher III of Tallahassee; Thomas Bertelle Fletcher IV of Orlando; Margaret Annette McCormick, and Hale Fletcher Branson of Reston, Virginia. He was blessed with one great-granddaughter, Sara Kathryn Provencher, whom he called the “baby princess.” He was thankful for his gracious caregiver, Michelle Weatherspoon, and his farm co-worker, Jerome Oliver.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Max Fletcher Hurricane Recovery Fund, Town of Greensboro, Box 66, Greensboro, FL 32330. Charles McClellan Funeral Home in Quincy (850-627-7677) is handling arrangements.
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