Flora P Fields

Flora P. Fields (Flo) passed away Monday, July 09, 2007, at her home in Hiawassee after several years of declining health. She is survived by her husband, Richard (Dick) Fields. She was born November 11, 1923 in Atlanta, GA. Flo's mother passed away when she was two, and she was reared by her grandmother. She was educated in the public schools of Atlanta and lived within the city limits of Atlanta until retiring and moving to Hiawassee in 1980. For 38 years Flo worked as an office manager for New York Life Insurance Company, first in the downtown Atlanta office and then in the Lenox Square Office. She was a trainer par excellence for agents and office managers. Many of the persons she hired as secretaries and clerks went on to be office managers for New York Life. On November 25, 1951, Flo married Dick Fields. For more than 50 years they were mentors to many young persons in their church and careers. Flo and Dick were members of First Methodist Church of Atlanta and later of Bethany UMC and Collins Memorial UMC, both of Atlanta. Although they had no children of their own, in each of those churches they worked with youth groups and children. They were long time supporters of former pastors, staying in touch with them after retirement and being sure that they had sufficient funds to care for their needs. In 1969 Flo and Dick built a second home in Hiawassee on Twin Mountain. Until 1980 when Dick retired from Rich's, they spent vacations and weekends in Hiawassee. After moving to Hiawassee they became members of Hiawassee United Methodist Church where they were both involved in many activities. Their home was a gathering place for many persons on holidays and other occasions. Their involvement in the Hiawassee UMC led first to the enlargement of the church building in downtown Hiawassee, then to the building of a new parsonage for the pastor and, later to the purchase of the property for the new church west of town on Highway 76. Flo served HUMC in many leadership capacities. Some of those include teaching the Friendship Sunday School Class, serving as a president of the UMW, and chairing the Administrative Council. In 1982 the North Georgia Annual Conference met in Hiawassee at the Georgia Mountain Fair Campground. Flo served as the chair of the Local Arrangements Committee. She recruited volunteers, made meal and overnight arrangements with local restaurants and hotels as well as the host of other details necessary for the organization of the week-long meeting. In 1940, Flo became a charter member of the Wesleyan Service Guild, an organization for the employed women in The Methodist Church and served in leadership positions in the district and annual conference WSG. She was the chairperson of the North Georgia Conference WSG when it merged with the Women's Society of Christian Service to become United Methodist Women in 1972. She used her vacation time to attend Schools of Christian Mission for many years and also attended many of the National Assemblies of WSCS/WSG. After moving to Hiawassee she served as president of the Gainesville District United Methodist Women and continued her involvement with the organization at the local, district and conference levels. A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Flora P. Fields will be held on Friday, July 20, 2007 at 2:00 PM in the sanctuary of the Hiawassee United Methodist Church on Highway 76 West. Rev. James Blair, Rev. Albert Askew and Rev. Nancy Joiner officiating. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, the family requests donations be sent to: HUMC Building Fund, or to the Helping Hands Foreign Ministries (Kowalskis). Please make checks payable to the Hiawassee United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 609, Hiawassee, GA 30546, and designate either the building fund or Helping Hands. Banister Funeral Home of Hiawassee in charge of arrangements.