Profiles of Prominent Citizens

DR. ALBERT FLEMING
Practicing Physician

Written December 9, 1949

A citizen of Folkston and Charlton County since 1920, Dr. Albert Fleming is the dean of the countyís medical profession. After more than fifty years as an active, practicing physician he continues to maintain regular office hours and makes occasional calls, although in recent months he has begun to take things a little easier having well earned this privilege.
Dr. Fleming was born at Smyrna, Cobb County, Georgia on November 15, 1866, being a member of one of the oldest, most widely known families of that section of the state near Atlanta. He was educated in the Cobb County public schools and obtained his medical degree from an Atlanta medical college in 1894.

Dr. Fleming began his long and eventful career as an employee of the Georgia Railroad, having obtained the position of locomotive engineer before his retirement in that field and before he was 21. His run was from Atlanta to Knoxville, Tenn., a distance of 205 miles on a line now operated as the N.C. and St. L. Railroad.

During his days as a medical student and while serving as an intern in Atlantaís Grady Hospital in 1893, Dr. Fleming was present and saw the first operation ever performed in Georgia for appendicitis. Up to that time the victim of appendicitis died from an ìobscure stomach ailment.î The progress of medical science since that day has been one of the greatest achievements of the Twentieth Century.

Upon completing his medical studies Dr. Fleming located in Putnam County, Georgia where he began the practice of his profession. After some time there he was appointed to the medical staff of the State Prison System and was assigned to a large camp at Fargo where the state had more than 1,000 convicts leased to the firm of Baxter & Company. He was at Fargo about four years when he resigned and opened an office in Valdosta for the general practice of medicine. About four years later he was called back into the state service, stationed in Ware County, where a large number of prisoners were held. He carried on a general practice in connection with his prison work there for several years, when he again resigned his state appointment and went into General Practice altogether.

Opening an office in Waycross in 1902 he achieved prominence in the medical profession of that city. He was the first chairman of the Medical Board of the Kingís Daughters Hospital and later established the Mary Street Hospital in Waycross.

During his stay there he served for one term as Chairman of the Ware County Board of Commissioners, being one of the first officials to advocate and work for the construction of the Central Dixie Highway. His connection with this project is commemorated on a granite marker erected before the courthouse in Folkston in 1920.

During his service as Chairman of the Ware County Board, Dr. Fleming initiated and saw completed the grading and sand gravel surfacing of the present Route No. One from Waycross to the Charlton County line as a Ware County road project. He also negotiated the purchase for Ware County of a 300 acre tract of land at a cost of $9,000.00. This property is still owned by Ware County, being the site of the Ware County Airport, being very valuable real estate.

Possibly the highest honor ever bestowed upon Dr. Fleming came with the appointment in 1914 by Governor Slaton as a member of the Georgia State Board of Medical Examiners for a term of four years. He was reappointed to this distinguished position by Governor Hugh Dorsey, serving altogether for eight years on this important board.

Dr. Fleming came to Folkston in 1920 when he located here for the practice of his profession. Since coming to this city and county he has been active in all movements for their welfare and advancement and has been a loyal, public-spirited citizen. He has served for several terms as Mayor of the city of Folkston and on the Board of Aldermen. He has also served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and has been active in other civic organizations.

When Federal Route No. One was paved through the county, he was a major cog-in-the-wheel which persuaded the State Highway authorities to pave from curb to curb on Main Street.

He has long been a member of the state, district and county medical societies. He is serving at the present time as City Health Officer, a position he has held continuously during his residence in Folkston. He has also served as County Medical Officer until a few years ago. Commenting on his public health service, Dr. Fleming says that he feels that his greatest achievement has been in the immunizing and inoculating against Typhoid Fever and Diphtheria. He says he has not had a case of Typhoid Fever in fifteen years and has not heard of any Diphtheria attack in some time. These maladies were once the cause of much suffering and frequent fatalities in this territory. His work in helping eradicate and control these diseases is worthy of the highest praise, and its value to the county and its people is beyond calculation.

Soon after coming to Folkston Dr. Fleming was married to Miss Susie Mizell, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Mizell, Sr., and a member of one of the countyís leading early families. He has a son and a daughter by a previous marriage, both residing elsewhere.

Dr. and Mrs. Fleming are both long-time members of the Methodist Church and they have been active church workers and have contributed greatly to the welfare of the community in a spiritual way. He served for many years on the Board of Stewards of the Folkston Methodist Church and is now an honorary member. He has taught a Sunday School class almost continuously since he resided in this city, being the teacher of the young Menís Class at the present time. Mrs. Fleming has for years, and is at the present, one of the valued Sunday School teachers.

Dr. Fleming has well earned the love and respect of the people of Folkston and Charlton County. He has their very best wishes for many more years of useful service to humanity.

December 9, 1949