Flora Lonette Davis Crittenden (August 10, 1924 – November 2, 2021) was an American educator and civil rights activist in Virginia turned politician.
She moved to Scarsdale, New York, where her parents worked as caretakers at a mansion, then back to Brooklyn after she experienced racial discrimination as an eight-year-old girl.
Upon receiving her bachelor's degree, Crittenden then taught physical education, English and social studies at the new Carver High School in Warwick (which would later be incorporated into Newport News) for seven years.
In 1971, Flora Crittenden studied Advanced Guidance Theory at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, which helped her to establish a career counseling program at Carver High School.
Her political career began in 1986, when Flora Crittenden won election to a four-year term on the Newport News City Council, and she served there until 1990.
When delegate Bobby Scott ran for (and won election to) the Virginia Senate from Newport News, his position was taken by Reverend W. Henry Maxwell.
[5] For 65 years she was married to Raymond Celester ("Coach") Crittenden Jr. (1926–2010), born in Richmond and also an athlete at and graduate of Virginia State University.
The Daily Press, a small town local newspaper named her one of the top ten most influential black women for that part of the Peninsula.