Claudia Mae (Flye) Fletcher, beloved child of God, lover of all people, died March 26, 2025, in the presence of her loving husband and faithful children, following a massive brain event from which she could not recover. Determined to live each of her sixty-one years to their fullest, she chose not to “rust out,” but ran into the arms of Jesus in a “blazing flame of glory,” donating as a final gift of life her organs to benefit others.
Born September 14, 1963, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Claudia often said she had been in church since the day of her conception, as her father pastored a small, store-front mission church, in the back of which he and her mother lived. Early in life Claudia trusted her heart to Jesus and sought to live a faithful life of discipleship for more than six decades. Claudia loved God, and she loved all people, especially those who knew the experience of “hard places.”
Following high school graduation (Denver West 1981), Claudia graduated with a Bachelor of Science from what is now Oklahoma Wesleyan University (1985), followed by graduate work at South Dakota State University (Brookings 1987), earning a Master of Education in Counseling and Student Development. She returned to her alma mater, where she rose to become Dean of Students in her late 20s, continuing to earn doctoral credits at the University of Oklahoma. Hearing God’s call to sell all she had and move to Mexico, she served two years as an academic consultant for an indigenous ministry training school.
While in Mexico, Claudia initiated contact with a college friend she had met a decade earlier, Bart Fletcher, who would become her husband on June 15, 1996. By October of that year, they would begin a journey as foster and adoptive parents that would form their family. In the following twelve years, Bart and Claudia welcomed into their family ten sons and two daughters. For more than twenty years in Minnesota, Claudia followed Bart’s itinerant ministry as a United Methodist clergyperson. Their ministry partnership was enhanced by Claudia’s vigorous work in the child welfare space. During those years she worked for Permanent Family Resource Center, Downey Side Children’s Service, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, Adopt America Network and Bethany Christian Services (Minneapolis Area Director). Her greatest joy was matching children “waiting” in foster care with prospective adoptive families. Her lifetime record was facilitating the match of over 600 children into permanent, adoptive families.
In late 2015 Claudia received an unexpected invitation to consider a once-in-a-lifetime vocational opportunity in central Virginia. Discerning that this move would please God, Claudia and Bart transitioned to a new chapter of life, where she assumed responsibilities at Patrick Henry Family Services (now Five18). As Chief Program Officer, Claudia eventually brokered a relationship between Five18 and CarePortal, in which faith communities, community partners and children and families needing support are connected through relationships which “change the world.” Until very recently, Claudia was responsible for CarePortal development in the southeastern area, from Washington, DC, to Georgia.
Claudia’s life purpose was empowered by James 1:27a: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in distress.” She loved her work, which she understood to be God’s call: not only for herself, but for any who follow Jesus. Claudia’s persistent nature, strong work ethic and confident attitude rocked the world of those with whom she connected. She was proud to have over 3,000 Facebook friends, any of whom she could converse with at a moment’s notice.
Claudia was most proud of the family she and her husband formed through adoption. Parenting children – most of whom arrived as “older children” – from hard places was her most challenging, but most significant endeavor. Always the optimist, in recent years she expressed new insights about adoptive parenting’s next generation, grateful to have been a part of her children’s stories. She reveled in the delight of fifteen grandchildren, hearing in her last few days of life that grandchild number sixteen is on the way.
Claudia was preceded in death by her father, Claude Bangs Flye in 2013, her mother Doris-Mae (Tanner) Flye in 2024, and her brother, Nathan Bangs Flye in 2020. Her remaining brother, Peter Cartwright Flye, resides in Denver.
Remaining to carry forward her unfinished mission and to honor her legacy are her devoted husband, the Rev. Dr. Bart A. Fletcher; her chosen children, Kyle Fletcher (Christy); Rand Fletcher (Amanda); Michael Fletcher; John Fletcher; Benjamin “Jimmy” Fletcher (Peyton Shipley); Salinda Williamson (Michael); Ricardo Fletcher (Elizabeth); Mercedes Oquist (Matthew); Leon Fletcher (Danielle); Anthony Fletcher (Kiara Dillabough); Dominyk Fletcher; and Wilson Fletcher. Grandchildren, for whom her heart overflowed, are Gabriella Villalon, Isaac Fletcher, Aiden Flitter, Silas Fletcher, Jy’mier White, Carlos Emory, Hazel Fletcher, Hattie Fletcher, Camilla Williamson, Søren Davies, Morocco Williamson, Malia Oquist, Mateo Oquist, Adeline Fletcher, and Ricardo Fletcher, Jr.
Claudia’s life work is complete, but her life vision remains to be embraced by all who love God: “Every child with a thriving family, supported by a faithful community.” May her well-lived life be an inspiration for all who seek to act with justice on behalf of the vulnerable.
A Service of Death and Resurrection for Claudia Fletcher is Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Peakland United Methodist Church, 4434 Boonsboro Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503. The service will be livestreamed at: https://youtube.com/@peaklandumc1426?si=6lPWlo28lW_p4Ue3
A second memorial service in Minnesota will be scheduled at a later date.
(Source: https://www.simpsonfuneral.com/obituaries/Claudia-Flye-Fletcher?obId=40256473)
