Marie Fleming saw her only son meet the president of the United States, win college football's greatest individual award, become a national treasure as a member of the Syracuse University football team and have a major film made about his life.
The mother of Ernie Davis also endured the anguish of her son's death in 1963. And for more than 44 years, she remained a part of the Syracuse football legacy as a proud mom and an ambassador for her son.
On Tuesday, Avis Marie Davis Fleming died in Elmira after taking a fall. She was 89. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
For more than four decades, she was a link between her son and the tradition of Syracuse football. That connection meant a great deal, she said in an interview with The Post-Standard in 2003.
"I'm quite proud of (people) speaking of him and thinking of him after so many years," she said. "There's hardly a day that goes by that someone doesn't say something to me about my son, Ernie."
Last summer, Universal Pictures began filming "The Express," a movie based on Davis' life. It's scheduled for release this fall. Director Gary Fleder visited with Fleming in Elmira last year and said he's heartbroken that she was unable to see the film.
"I'm stunned and saddened to hear of her passing," said Fleder. "When I visited Marie several months before filming began, I was just really impressed with her. I was impressed with her intelligence, her wit and her fortitude. She was clearly a very smart and strong woman. She was very protective of Ernie's legacy, which I admired.
"The reason I sat down with her is I wanted to make sure we honored Ernie in the film. I say this in the most glowing way, but I think she was skeptical about a film about her son. I admired that. I really wanted to make sure we got the film right."
Fleder said the film was finished a few weeks ago. "The very sad irony is the year the film is finished, she didn't get a chance to see it."
Former Syracuse tailback Floyd Little said Fleming treated him like her own son.
He said she never failed to spread her arms and wrap them around him.
"She was like a mom. She was like anybody's mom," said Little, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. "She always had that impact. She was a mother, a friend. When I see her and think of her, she always had her arms open for me to fall into. She was special."
Fleming made many trips to Syracuse after the death of her son. She was here as recently as 2005 for a ceremony to retire the No. 44 jersey, which Davis and others wore playing for the Orange. She was driven onto the field in a golf cart, and Little said she was disappointed she couldn't run onto the field with the players.
Little said he and SU great Jim Brown escorted Fleming to midfield at Giants Stadium in 1979 the season in which the Orange played all its games on the road during the construction of the Carrier Dome to recognize Davis and his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Little said he also escorted Fleming to midfield at Archbold Stadium during his freshman season in 1963 when she donated Davis' Heisman Trophy to the university.
That was the same year that Davis died.
Fleming made frequent trips to Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira to visit her son's grave. Sometimes, she encountered strangers. Some would pray. Others stood silent. Occasionally, they would speak to her.
"When he first passed, that's where I found peace," she said.
Little said he was proud of the way his alma mater has included Fleming and recognized Davis throughout the years.
"That they would honor him by honoring her in many instances . . . she had to be very, very happy he was remembered," he said.
A statue of Davis is scheduled to be placed on campus this fall.
SU athletic director Daryl Gross said he met Fleming at the retirement of 44 celebration. "We were very moved by the fact that she got to see her son's jersey retired. She was very proud and I remember having a sense of closure. Our hearts and prayers go out to her and her family as we know and hope she will be reunited with her son. We will celebrate both of their lives with the release of 'The Express.' "
Reggie Schwartzwalder saw Fleming throughout parts of six decades. The wife of former Syracuse head coach Ben Schwartzwalder was with her husband when he began recruiting Davis out of Elmira Free Academy. She said the first time she met Fleming was at a banquet during Davis' sophomore season. She called Fleming "a lovely woman.
"A good mother to Ernie," she said, "and he was a good son, I must say. My husband, he used to say he was a man with a halo. A little angel put it up there. He was a good person and a wonderful boy."
Calling hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Faith Temple Community C.O.G.I.C., Harper Street, Elmira. The funeral service will be at the church at 10 a.m. Saturday. Following the service, she will be buried next to her son in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Central NY Chapter, 401 N. Salina St., Learbury Centre, Suite 304, Syracuse, N.Y. 13203 in memory of Ernie Davis.
The mother of Ernie Davis also endured the anguish of her son's death in 1963. And for more than 44 years, she remained a part of the Syracuse football legacy as a proud mom and an ambassador for her son.
On Tuesday, Avis Marie Davis Fleming died in Elmira after taking a fall. She was 89. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
For more than four decades, she was a link between her son and the tradition of Syracuse football. That connection meant a great deal, she said in an interview with The Post-Standard in 2003.
"I'm quite proud of (people) speaking of him and thinking of him after so many years," she said. "There's hardly a day that goes by that someone doesn't say something to me about my son, Ernie."
Last summer, Universal Pictures began filming "The Express," a movie based on Davis' life. It's scheduled for release this fall. Director Gary Fleder visited with Fleming in Elmira last year and said he's heartbroken that she was unable to see the film.
"I'm stunned and saddened to hear of her passing," said Fleder. "When I visited Marie several months before filming began, I was just really impressed with her. I was impressed with her intelligence, her wit and her fortitude. She was clearly a very smart and strong woman. She was very protective of Ernie's legacy, which I admired.
"The reason I sat down with her is I wanted to make sure we honored Ernie in the film. I say this in the most glowing way, but I think she was skeptical about a film about her son. I admired that. I really wanted to make sure we got the film right."
Fleder said the film was finished a few weeks ago. "The very sad irony is the year the film is finished, she didn't get a chance to see it."
Former Syracuse tailback Floyd Little said Fleming treated him like her own son.
He said she never failed to spread her arms and wrap them around him.
"She was like a mom. She was like anybody's mom," said Little, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. "She always had that impact. She was a mother, a friend. When I see her and think of her, she always had her arms open for me to fall into. She was special."
Fleming made many trips to Syracuse after the death of her son. She was here as recently as 2005 for a ceremony to retire the No. 44 jersey, which Davis and others wore playing for the Orange. She was driven onto the field in a golf cart, and Little said she was disappointed she couldn't run onto the field with the players.
Little said he and SU great Jim Brown escorted Fleming to midfield at Giants Stadium in 1979 the season in which the Orange played all its games on the road during the construction of the Carrier Dome to recognize Davis and his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Little said he also escorted Fleming to midfield at Archbold Stadium during his freshman season in 1963 when she donated Davis' Heisman Trophy to the university.
That was the same year that Davis died.
Fleming made frequent trips to Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira to visit her son's grave. Sometimes, she encountered strangers. Some would pray. Others stood silent. Occasionally, they would speak to her.
"When he first passed, that's where I found peace," she said.
Little said he was proud of the way his alma mater has included Fleming and recognized Davis throughout the years.
"That they would honor him by honoring her in many instances . . . she had to be very, very happy he was remembered," he said.
A statue of Davis is scheduled to be placed on campus this fall.
SU athletic director Daryl Gross said he met Fleming at the retirement of 44 celebration. "We were very moved by the fact that she got to see her son's jersey retired. She was very proud and I remember having a sense of closure. Our hearts and prayers go out to her and her family as we know and hope she will be reunited with her son. We will celebrate both of their lives with the release of 'The Express.' "
Reggie Schwartzwalder saw Fleming throughout parts of six decades. The wife of former Syracuse head coach Ben Schwartzwalder was with her husband when he began recruiting Davis out of Elmira Free Academy. She said the first time she met Fleming was at a banquet during Davis' sophomore season. She called Fleming "a lovely woman.
"A good mother to Ernie," she said, "and he was a good son, I must say. My husband, he used to say he was a man with a halo. A little angel put it up there. He was a good person and a wonderful boy."
Calling hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Faith Temple Community C.O.G.I.C., Harper Street, Elmira. The funeral service will be at the church at 10 a.m. Saturday. Following the service, she will be buried next to her son in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Central NY Chapter, 401 N. Salina St., Learbury Centre, Suite 304, Syracuse, N.Y. 13203 in memory of Ernie Davis.
Marie Fleming saw her only son meet the president of the United States, win college football's greatest individual award, become a national treasure as a member of the Syracuse University football team and have a major film made about his life.
The mother of Ernie Davis also endured the anguish of her son's death in 1963. And for more than 44 years, she remained a part of the Syracuse football legacy as a proud mom and an ambassador for her son.
On Tuesday, Avis Marie Davis Fleming died in Elmira after taking a fall. She was 89. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
For more than four decades, she was a link between her son and the tradition of Syracuse football. That connection meant a great deal, she said in an interview with The Post-Standard in 2003.
"I'm quite proud of (people) speaking of him and thinking of him after so many years," she said. "There's hardly a day that goes by that someone doesn't say something to me about my son, Ernie."
Last summer, Universal Pictures began filming "The Express," a movie based on Davis' life. It's scheduled for release this fall. Director Gary Fleder visited with Fleming in Elmira last year and said he's heartbroken that she was unable to see the film.
"I'm stunned and saddened to hear of her passing," said Fleder. "When I visited Marie several months before filming began, I was just really impressed with her. I was impressed with her intelligence, her wit and her fortitude. She was clearly a very smart and strong woman. She was very protective of Ernie's legacy, which I admired.
"The reason I sat down with her is I wanted to make sure we honored Ernie in the film. I say this in the most glowing way, but I think she was skeptical about a film about her son. I admired that. I really wanted to make sure we got the film right."
Fleder said the film was finished a few weeks ago. "The very sad irony is the year the film is finished, she didn't get a chance to see it."
Former Syracuse tailback Floyd Little said Fleming treated him like her own son.
He said she never failed to spread her arms and wrap them around him.
"She was like a mom. She was like anybody's mom," said Little, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. "She always had that impact. She was a mother, a friend. When I see her and think of her, she always had her arms open for me to fall into. She was special."
Fleming made many trips to Syracuse after the death of her son. She was here as recently as 2005 for a ceremony to retire the No. 44 jersey, which Davis and others wore playing for the Orange. She was driven onto the field in a golf cart, and Little said she was disappointed she couldn't run onto the field with the players.
Little said he and SU great Jim Brown escorted Fleming to midfield at Giants Stadium in 1979 the season in which the Orange played all its games on the road during the construction of the Carrier Dome to recognize Davis and his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Little said he also escorted Fleming to midfield at Archbold Stadium during his freshman season in 1963 when she donated Davis' Heisman Trophy to the university.
That was the same year that Davis died.
Fleming made frequent trips to Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira to visit her son's grave. Sometimes, she encountered strangers. Some would pray. Others stood silent. Occasionally, they would speak to her.
"When he first passed, that's where I found peace," she said.
Little said he was proud of the way his alma mater has included Fleming and recognized Davis throughout the years.
"That they would honor him by honoring her in many instances . . . she had to be very, very happy he was remembered," he said.
A statue of Davis is scheduled to be placed on campus this fall.
SU athletic director Daryl Gross said he met Fleming at the retirement of 44 celebration. "We were very moved by the fact that she got to see her son's jersey retired. She was very proud and I remember having a sense of closure. Our hearts and prayers go out to her and her family as we know and hope she will be reunited with her son. We will celebrate both of their lives with the release of 'The Express.' "
Reggie Schwartzwalder saw Fleming throughout parts of six decades. The wife of former Syracuse head coach Ben Schwartzwalder was with her husband when he began recruiting Davis out of Elmira Free Academy. She said the first time she met Fleming was at a banquet during Davis' sophomore season. She called Fleming "a lovely woman.
"A good mother to Ernie," she said, "and he was a good son, I must say. My husband, he used to say he was a man with a halo. A little angel put it up there. He was a good person and a wonderful boy."
Calling hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Faith Temple Community C.O.G.I.C., Harper Street, Elmira. The funeral service will be at the church at 10 a.m. Saturday. Following the service, she will be buried next to her son in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Central NY Chapter, 401 N. Salina St., Learbury Centre, Suite 304, Syracuse, N.Y. 13203 in memory of Ernie Davis.
The mother of Ernie Davis also endured the anguish of her son's death in 1963. And for more than 44 years, she remained a part of the Syracuse football legacy as a proud mom and an ambassador for her son.
On Tuesday, Avis Marie Davis Fleming died in Elmira after taking a fall. She was 89. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday.
For more than four decades, she was a link between her son and the tradition of Syracuse football. That connection meant a great deal, she said in an interview with The Post-Standard in 2003.
"I'm quite proud of (people) speaking of him and thinking of him after so many years," she said. "There's hardly a day that goes by that someone doesn't say something to me about my son, Ernie."
Last summer, Universal Pictures began filming "The Express," a movie based on Davis' life. It's scheduled for release this fall. Director Gary Fleder visited with Fleming in Elmira last year and said he's heartbroken that she was unable to see the film.
"I'm stunned and saddened to hear of her passing," said Fleder. "When I visited Marie several months before filming began, I was just really impressed with her. I was impressed with her intelligence, her wit and her fortitude. She was clearly a very smart and strong woman. She was very protective of Ernie's legacy, which I admired.
"The reason I sat down with her is I wanted to make sure we honored Ernie in the film. I say this in the most glowing way, but I think she was skeptical about a film about her son. I admired that. I really wanted to make sure we got the film right."
Fleder said the film was finished a few weeks ago. "The very sad irony is the year the film is finished, she didn't get a chance to see it."
Former Syracuse tailback Floyd Little said Fleming treated him like her own son.
He said she never failed to spread her arms and wrap them around him.
"She was like a mom. She was like anybody's mom," said Little, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. "She always had that impact. She was a mother, a friend. When I see her and think of her, she always had her arms open for me to fall into. She was special."
Fleming made many trips to Syracuse after the death of her son. She was here as recently as 2005 for a ceremony to retire the No. 44 jersey, which Davis and others wore playing for the Orange. She was driven onto the field in a golf cart, and Little said she was disappointed she couldn't run onto the field with the players.
Little said he and SU great Jim Brown escorted Fleming to midfield at Giants Stadium in 1979 the season in which the Orange played all its games on the road during the construction of the Carrier Dome to recognize Davis and his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Little said he also escorted Fleming to midfield at Archbold Stadium during his freshman season in 1963 when she donated Davis' Heisman Trophy to the university.
That was the same year that Davis died.
Fleming made frequent trips to Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira to visit her son's grave. Sometimes, she encountered strangers. Some would pray. Others stood silent. Occasionally, they would speak to her.
"When he first passed, that's where I found peace," she said.
Little said he was proud of the way his alma mater has included Fleming and recognized Davis throughout the years.
"That they would honor him by honoring her in many instances . . . she had to be very, very happy he was remembered," he said.
A statue of Davis is scheduled to be placed on campus this fall.
SU athletic director Daryl Gross said he met Fleming at the retirement of 44 celebration. "We were very moved by the fact that she got to see her son's jersey retired. She was very proud and I remember having a sense of closure. Our hearts and prayers go out to her and her family as we know and hope she will be reunited with her son. We will celebrate both of their lives with the release of 'The Express.' "
Reggie Schwartzwalder saw Fleming throughout parts of six decades. The wife of former Syracuse head coach Ben Schwartzwalder was with her husband when he began recruiting Davis out of Elmira Free Academy. She said the first time she met Fleming was at a banquet during Davis' sophomore season. She called Fleming "a lovely woman.
"A good mother to Ernie," she said, "and he was a good son, I must say. My husband, he used to say he was a man with a halo. A little angel put it up there. He was a good person and a wonderful boy."
Calling hours are from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Faith Temple Community C.O.G.I.C., Harper Street, Elmira. The funeral service will be at the church at 10 a.m. Saturday. Following the service, she will be buried next to her son in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Central NY Chapter, 401 N. Salina St., Learbury Centre, Suite 304, Syracuse, N.Y. 13203 in memory of Ernie Davis.
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