Iris Lee Joann Jarrett Fleming, 86, of Morganton, NC, passed away Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Born in Burke County, NC on July 14, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Sam David Jarrett and Flossie Marie Brittain Jarrett.
Iris was a member of South Mountain Baptist Church where she sang in the choir. She loved music, flowers, gardening, and traveling. She also loved people and hosting parties. She had served on the Board of Directors for the Brendletown Fire Department and was a member of the Daughters of the Confederacy.
Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Bruce Fleming (Gloria Jean), Terry Fleming (Regina), Bryon Fleming (Tammy), and Todd Fleming (Karen); special son, Dominic Perham (Susan); special daughter, Sabrina Woolridge (Kevin); grandsons, Clint Fleming (Jaime), Wyatt Fleming (Abby), and Weston Fleming (Taylor); granddaughters, Amanda Mull (Anthony) and Megan Fleming Huffman (Curtis); great-grandchildren, Jade Norman (Nick), Macie Fleming, Tessa Fleming, Sara Fleming, Laynie Knox, Colt Woolridge (Courtney), Dawson Woolridge, Laighton Maltry, and Christian Maltry; great-great-grandchildren, Colt Woolridge, Jr. and Everlee Norman; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
In addition to her parents, Iris was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Vernon Fleming; grandsons, Terry Lee Fleming, Jr., Cody Vernon Fleming, and Jerry David Fleming; brothers, Dr. David Jarrett, Sr., Harry “Pete” Jarrett, and Charlie Jarrett; and sisters, Ellen Jarrett Powell and Charlotte Minor.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, May 21, 2026 at South Mountain Baptist Church. The funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the church with Rev. Richard Lowery, Pastor Steve Bietz, and Chaplain Steve Morgan officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to South Mountain Baptist Church.
The family would like to express their appreciation to her special caregiver, Stacy Lackey, and to VIA Hospice for the compassionate care shown to Iris.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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Miss Iris im gonna miss you & your story telling. You definitely took pride in your belongings & always spoke highly of your family! Thank you for loving my Sofia & my momma. I always enjoyed buying lunch & seeing a smile on your face! This isn't a goodbye, its a see ya later sweet lady!!!!
My sweet Mawmaw. My darlin'. My best friend. I am going to miss you more than you could have ever known. The legacy you have left behind as the matriarch of our family is one of the most beautiful stories to be told. You raised me and taught me your way of doing things. Three that stick in my mind are "pretty Is As Pretty does", don't wear makeup or you will have more wrinkles when you get old, and how to "straighten out a curve". I promised you I would be okay, and i know eventually I will. Right now I am struggling to accept you're not here. I got so familiar with your everyday presence in my life, that the part of my heart that you took with you has left a really big wound. I know you wouldn't want me to stay sad for too long, and I am doing my best to stay strong. I know that once the hurt dies down I will remember all of our precious memories. Those times that we shared between us that nobody will ever be able to take from me will remain sacred forever. Eventually one day I will smile again, but for right now you rest easy knowing that I learned from you and Im going to be just fine 'til I see you again. Fly high my guardian angel, I will love you always little lady. Until we see each other again, Rest in Peace my sweet Mawmaw ~Love Always, your granddaughter, Amanda Fleming Mull
We all loved Iris and she will be sorely missed. She had such a zest for life and living it to the fullest. My memories of her will always be of her laughing and carrying on, just having a good ole time. I don't recall ever seeing her not smiling. And her Tupperware and Tiara parties never disappointed, something of legends! Iris was the Tupperware Queen! When I was younger she'd let me come over and work for spending money. She took our family in at a time when we had nowhere to go, ALL of us in her and Jerry's little house beside Beulah's store, their 4 boys and my Mom with her three kids, wow! Her family was the most important thing to her and our sincerest condolences go out to her family and friends. They broke the mold when they made Iris. I pray the Lord comforts you, brings your family peace and keeps you in his care. The Brenda Reed Family
Miss Iris im gonna miss hearing all the stories you'd tell & you loving my little sofia! You sure did cherish your family more than anything! You were a wonderful woman!!!
I woke up early this morning with a heavy heart. This is my Monday to come and sit with you but your not there. My sweet little Iris, you have no idea how much I'm gonna miss you. Ive had the best of times shopping, eating out, riding around, planting flowers, painting, making flower arrangements and taking them to the cemetery, us making your special banana pudding, pedicures, listening to classic country, I could go on and on but the one thing I will miss the most is all the stories about your family that you shared with me. I would sit and listen to you for hour's and never get bored or hear the same story twice. You should have written a book, I know it would have been a best seller. I will remember how good you were to my grandbabies, my kids my husband and myself. You were so kind and treated us just like family and I will remember that forever. I'm gonna miss you so much my sweet friend, you will always be in my heart! Bryon & Tammy (#3) , Todd & Karen (#4), Bruce & Jenn (#1), Terry & Regina (#2), Dominic & Susan (Special son/daughter inlaw) , YOUR SWEET MOM LOVED YALL SO MUCH, I KNOW BECAUSE SHE TOLD ME, I want to Thank You all for allowing me to take care of your sweet little moma and Thank You all for being so kind to me. To all the grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, yall had the best mawmaw in this world and she was so proud and loved all of yall, she told me!! I will be praying for all The Fleming Family in the days to come, God please wrap your loving arms around this family and hold them together during this difficult time, give them peace and Love, Amen 🙏 Stacey Lackey (Iris's caregiver/best friend)
I am sad to hear about Iris passing. She and my mom Elizabeth Kincaid went on many travels together with Tiara and had wonderful memories together. I'm sure they are in heaven catching up.. Your hearts may be broken 💔 but she has a new body and is in God's care. We loved Iris. The Kincaid family
Some of my biggest teenage memories include Jerry and Iris and all of the "Fleming boys". People would ask daddy if he worried about me working at the racetrack and he always said, "Nope, the Fleming boys are looking out for her...ain't no one going to give her any trouble!" I have memories of countless mornings at the truckstop eating breakfast. My heart is sad to hear of Mrs. Iris's passing. I know that heaven gained a sweet angel and Jerry and Daddy were there to welcome her in! Much love to you all!