Arizona Fleming Elementary opened its doors in 1994. 

Our School Namesake - Arizona Fleming: A Brave Leader

Arizona Fleming was born on March 23, 1884, in Richmond, Texas. She was an African-American woman who ran her own business. As a child, Arizona went to schools that were segregated through the 12th grade. She also went to an all-black college named Guadalupe College located in Seguin, Texas. After college, Arizona found employment as a bookkeeper at the Seagul Laundry in Houston, TX. After four years in this employment, she left Houston for her hometown of Richmond, where she became a noted seamstress.

Arizona married two times in her life and started an undertaking company with others. She worked hard and became the owner of the business. Even during the Great Depression, she worked tirelessly, and her business endured with the help of her family.

In 1950, Arizona Fleming joined a lawsuit to fight against a group that did not let black people vote in the Democratic Party Primary. She worked with another African-American, Willie Melton, and they won the case in the District Court. But the case was appealed and went up to the United States Supreme Court. In 1953, the Supreme Court awarded African-Americans full voting rights in Fort Bend County.

Arizona Fleming helped make sure that everyone could vote no matter their skin color. Because of her hard work, our elementary school in Fort Bend was built and named after her in 1994. She passed away on January 18, 1976, and was buried in Richmond, TX.