Arizona Fleming
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Arizona Fleming | |
|---|---|
 Arizona Fleming | |
| Born | March 23, 1884 |
| Died | January 18, 1976 (aged 91) |
| Occupation | Business owner |
| Known for | Litigant in US Supreme Court civil rights case |
Arizona Fleming (March 23, 1884 – January 18, 1976) was an African-American small business owner from Richmond, Texas, who became part of the Civil Rights Movement by joining a lawsuit against an all-white political club that prevented black voters from participating in the Democratic Party Primary in Fort Bend County. While John Terry's name headed the legal petition, Fleming and Willie Melton provided much of the financial support and work behind the lawsuit. The case was won in United States District Court in 1950 and overturned on appeal in 1952. The case went before the United States Supreme Court in 1953 and African-Americans won full voting rights in the county. In 1994 Arizona Fleming Elementary School was opened in Fort Bend Independent School District.
On March 23, 1884, Arizona Fleming was born in Richmond, Texas, of parents Beauregard and Laura Fleming. She went to segregated schools through the 12th grade. She attended all-black Guadalupe College in Seguin, Texas, and then was employed as a bookkeeper at the Seagul Laundry in Houston. After four years she went back to her hometown of Richmond where she became a noted seamstress. She married F.A. Hicks on October 21, 1903, and married Robb Simmons on January 10, 1912. In 1927 she joined with several others to establish an undertaking company. After serving as secretary and manager for a few years she emerged as the sole proprietor. Her business survived the Great Depression with financial help from an uncle in Beaumont. Sometime afterward she became a homeowner.[1]
