Arizona Fleming
Fleming Elementary School
Arizona Fleming, an African American civil-rights activist, was born in Richmond, Texas, and was the daughter of Beauregard (Bully) and Laura Fleming. She attended segregated schools through the 12th grade, then entered Guadalupe College in Seguin. After college she worked for four years as a bookkeeper for Seagul Laundry in Houston, then later returned to Richmond and became a leading seamstress in the county. In 1927 she and several others founded the Fort Bend Fraternal Undertaking Company in Richmond; Fleming served as secretary and manager of the company. During the Great Depression, she received financial assistance from her uncle, C. H. D. Fleming of Beaumont, who helped her establish a good credit rating. After several years with the undertaking company, Fleming rose to the position of sole proprietor and eventually owned her own house. In the early 1950s, Fleming became involved in reestablishing the African-American vote in Fort Bend County and took part in many civil rights efforts to end local voter discrimination.