[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 151 (Thursday, November 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1835-E1836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HARLEM'S GENERAL COUNSEL JOSEPH 
                             FLEMING, ESQ.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 29, 2012

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the life and legacy of 
Joseph Fleming, fondly known to many as Papa Joe, Joe Cool, The 
People's Lawyer, The Master Negotiator and Harlem's General Counsel. On 
Monday, September 10, 2012, Harlem's honorary elite gathered at the 
Sanctuary of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church to celebrate the 
life of our dear beloved attorney and friend, Joseph Fleming, Esq.
  It was a special gathering of people that knew Joseph as clients, as 
activists, as educators, as business partners, as media personalities, 
as religious leaders, as entertainers and promoters, as elected 
officials and as family members and friends. In his very short time 
here on this earth, my dear friend Joe Fleming lived a complete and 
compact life of excellence and accomplishment, which included being the 
best husband in the world, a wonderful loving and complete father, a 
devoted son, a trusted friend and confident, an author, inventor, 
entrepreneur, role model, track runner, singer, a man who loved to 
party and dance with the ladies, but a man who gave all of his 
unyielding heart to his only true love and partner Temple-Jene.
  Great men like Joseph Fleming, Esq. are precious gifts we temporarily 
have in this world, but their assistance and contributions are far 
remembered and everlasting. Although Joe will be missed, his legacy now 
lives through his wife, Temple-Jene, his son, Joseph Harris, his three 
daughters, Lavon Robin, Lateefah Shariene and Terilyn Marshelle, his 
grandson, Nathaniel Joseph Williams, his God-daughter, Nyah Cha' Ron 
Uhuru and through Maschil Entertainment, whose mission is to create, 
produce, and promote music and artists who ``make music with a 
conscious message''. That is indeed a great comfort to all who knew 
this amazing, articulate, soft spoken, serene and outspoken man, who 
lived life positive despite pain and discomfort as an example to all of 
us.
  Mr. Speaker, on a very personal note, when I remember Joe Fleming, I 
think about myself as D'Artagnan who joined Athos (Joe Fleming), 
Porthos (Leon Ellis) and Aramis (Reggie Williams), the Black 
Musketeers, inseparable friends who live by the motto ``all for one, 
one for all'' (``tous pour un, un pour tous''). The friendship and 
kinship of these amazing three Amigos, The Black Musketeers is a story 
that bears and dares to be written in the mortals of Harlem's history, 
which will tell a story of three very best friends who were always 
there for me and the community we love so deeply.
  I am honored to include the Obituary of our dear beloved Musketeer, 
Joseph Fleming, Esq.

       Joseph Fleming was born January 4, 1951 in Richmond, 
     Virginia to Mary Terry Fleming and the late Rev. Leroy 
     Fleming, Sr. His family moved to Mt. Vernon, New York in 
     1953, and later to the Bronx in 1957. Joseph is a product of 
     the New York City School System, P.S. 103, Olinville Jr. High 
     School, and Evander Childs High School. He graduated from New 
     York University School of Liberal Arts at its Uptown Bronx 
     Campus in 1973, where he received his B.S. Degree in 
     Economics and Political Science. While attending NYU, Joseph 
     was the Founder and one of the Directors of the Educational 
     Development and Community Enrollment Program, a program 
     designed to enroll and mentor students with promise, but 
     without the grades. He was also President of the Black 
     Students Organization.
       Joseph loved the law. At an early age, after watching Perry 
     Mason, he decided he was going to be a lawyer. Upon receiving 
     his Juris Doctor from New York University in 1976, Joseph 
     began working as an Associate in the Law Offices of Reginald 
     F. Lewis. It was an opportunity of a lifetime to be able to 
     gain firsthand experience with one of the top African 
     American attorneys on Wall Street. Within a couple of years, 
     Joseph knew that his passion for the law would only be truly

[[Page E1836]]

     satisfied by having his own firm. In January of 1978, Joseph 
     started his private practice, Joseph Fleming, Esq., which was 
     located in his home on Central Park West. In the beginning he 
     only had a handful of clients, but word began to spread about 
     this young attorney who could get the job done. In 1986, he 
     moved his home office downtown nearer the Court Houses, first 
     to Hudson Street, and then in subsequent years, as his 
     practice grew, he maintained offices in the Wall Street area 
     on John Street. The Law Offices of Joseph Fleming was a 
     general practice law firm committed to providing superior 
     legal representation in a personalized and cost effective 
     manner. Many who sought professional advice and counsel from 
     Joseph were also fortunate to have a personal relationship 
     with him. He often gave out his cell phone number so that he 
     could be reached directly by his ``client/friend'' anytime of 
     the day or night. During his 34 years of having fun 
     practicing law, Joseph never advertised his practice. You had 
     to be his client by referral only.
       Attorney Fleming's practice concentrated in the following 
     areas of expertise: Federal Civil Litigation, General Civil 
     Litigation in all courts including Commercial Litigation, 
     Personal Injury, and Medical Malpractice; Corporate, 
     Commercial, and General Business matters; Real Estate 
     transactions on all levels from the sale and purchase of 
     property to major corporate mergers, acquisitions, and 
     development; Entertainment, Media and the Arts; Estates, 
     Wills and Trusts, Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, and 
     Trademark and Copyright. Joseph served as legal counsel to a 
     wide range of professionals, corporations, not-for-profit 
     corporations, and individuals. Although his practice was 
     spread worldwide, the majority of his clients were from the 
     Village of Harlem. Joseph also provided opportunities to many 
     law students and young attorneys. Whatever he could do, he 
     expected them to do the same, from making photocopies, 
     interacting with clients and other attorneys, to standing 
     before Judges and Clerks. He gave young men and women a full 
     and true experience of what it was to be an attorney in all 
     facets.
       Joseph was admitted to practice in the United States 
     Supreme Court; the United States Court of Appeals for the 
     Federal Circuit; the Second Circuit Court of Appeals; United 
     States District Court for the Eastern District of New York; 
     United States District Court for the Southern District of New 
     York; United States Tax Court; and the New York State Supreme 
     Court, Appellate Division First Judicial Department. He was a 
     member of the New York State Bar Association and a founding 
     member of the Society of African American Law Firms. Joseph 
     was also one of the founding members and Chairman of the 
     Board for the Education of People of African Ancestry. He had 
     been an adjunct Professor at John Jay College for Criminal 
     Justice.
       Joseph was most proud of his victory in the case of 
     Professor Leonard Jeffries v. the City University of New 
     York, where he successfully defended Dr. Jeffries in his 
     First Amendment suit against the College. He was also proud 
     of his skillful legal prowess in successfully recovering the 
     property of Malcolm X, from an eBay auction and a near 
     storage facility sale, and returning the property to the 
     Shabazz Family.
       Joseph was so much more than an attorney and counselor. He 
     was one of the best husbands in the world, a wonderful loving 
     father, devoted son, trusted friend and confident, an author, 
     inventor, entrepreneur, role model, track runner, singer, a 
     man who loved to party and dance with the ladies, and Temple-
     Jene's handyman. Among his many entrepreneurial activities, 
     in 1974 he served as the publisher of one of the first 
     African American fashion magazines. ``Black In Vogue'', which 
     was the first fashion publication to give credit to models 
     and photographers directly on the page of the photo magazine. 
     Attorney Fleming was named to Who's Who in Black New York 
     City in 2009. He was an Officer in his son's company, Maschil 
     Entertainment, Inc., and was Executive Producer and co-host 
     of Maschil's critically acclaimed live art, music show 
     ``LoveJonesNYC''. He worked with other giants in the 
     entertainment industry including Dr. Benjamin Chavis and 
     Russell Simmon's Hip Hop Summit, Doug E. Fresh, Lion King's 
     Sophia Nicole, and his son, J-Harris; as well as a number of 
     other celebrities and up and coming artists.
       Joseph was amazing! He had been battling several cancers 
     over the years, starting in 1999, culminating with his 
     transition in 2012. Joseph's faith in God was so strong! 
     Without God, none of the above could have happened!

  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me 
in Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Harlem's General Counsel, Joseph 
Fleming, Esq. It is my hope that his example will serve as a testament 
that, with hard work and genuine character, we can achieve our greatest 
dreams.

                          ____________________