Flora W. Chase

Published 9:58 pm Thursday, October 27, 2011

October 25, 2011

Flora Louise Walden was born June 11, 1920, in the Holland section of Suffolk, Va. She was predeceased by her father, Obadiah Walden, the owner of a store in Holland, and her mother, Coma Porter Walden, a teacher. After her early years of schooling, she earned a B.S. from Virginia State University in Petersburg and a master’s degree from New York University.

Flora W. Chase

She married the noted pianist Tommy Chase in 1944, and they made their home in Washington, D.C. She taught at Parker-Gray High School in Alexandria, Va., and was the first African-American female to teach at T.C. Williams High School (made famous by the movie “Remember the Titans”). Her husband passed away in 1969, but Flora Chase remained in Washington until her retirement. After her retirement, she moved back home to Suffolk, where she was an active and faithful member of Mount Sinai Baptist Church. The “Turtle Lady” passed away on Oct. 25, 2011. She is survived by many cousins and friends.

The funeral will be held at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 1 p.m. A wake will be held at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28. Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.