Sudden Passing of Alexandria Enterprise and Civic Chief Florence King Shocks Group

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Following a quick sickness, Florence King, 74, handed away at her Alexandria dwelling on December 9, 2021. It got here as a devastating loss to the group. Shocked by her sudden passing, King’s many mates and acquaintances reached out to share their remembrances.

“Florence and I had been going to attend the governor’s inaugural, and I used to be making reservations and shopping for tickets for us when it occurred to me [that] I had not heard from her in a couple of days,” stated good pal Brenda Alford. “She all the time returns calls and texts, even when she is in a gathering. So I began calling hospitals.”

Alford discovered Florence on the Alexandria Hospital and visited a couple of days earlier than she died. King was retaining her situation personal. These closest to her stated she didn’t wish to hassle everybody through the holidays.

“If ever there was an appointed Ambassador for Alexandria, Florence King could be that particular person,” stated Alford. “She launched quite a few folks to town, as enterprise homeowners and residents, and positively many guests. It’s the uncommon entrepreneur who operates repeatedly and efficiently for 30 years.”

“What an unthinkable and surprising loss. I’m so saddened,” wrote former Mayor Allison Silberberg on Fb. “Florence has made an outstanding distinction right here in numerous methods, and he or she was a pal to all. My deepest sympathies to all who knew and beloved her, particularly her household. Her life was a blessing, and he or she will probably be sorely missed.”

“I’m in shock… so unhappy… had so many nice conversations with Florence—largely listening to her unbelievable tales… beloved her! What a loss,” stated J.V. Powers. “Actually surprising. Unbelievable,” stated Kevin Peck.

“That is horrible information to get up to,” wrote Rod Kukro on Fb. “I served on a nonprofit board with Florence and was all the time impressed at how ready she was and prepared to leverage her intensive community. She was gracious, sort, and humorous. Will likely be missed by so many whose lives she touched.”

Excelling Regardless of Segregation

Throughout the greater than three a long time she referred to as the Port Metropolis dwelling, King touched the lives of hundreds. Information of her loss of life has hit Alexandria particularly laborious as a result of she simply ran a distinguished, though unsuccessful, marketing campaign as an Unbiased for a seat on the Metropolis Council.

“I’m working as an Unbiased as a result of I’ve allegiance to the Metropolis,” King advised The Zebra in an interview concerning the election. “I’m not right here to bolster my political resume. I’m working as a result of I care about Alexandria.”

Florence King was certainly one of ten kids raised in Franconia in Fairfax County. She was the great-granddaughter of Thornton Grey, a freed slave on the Mount Vernon plantation, and the great-great-granddaughter of Thomasina Grey, who was enslaved at Mount Vernon till emancipated by Common Washington in 1812.

Florence attended Luther Jackson Excessive College in Tysons, Virginia. After highschool, she earned a level in sociology with a minor in enterprise administration from George Mason College. In  2021, King advised Zebra, “I used to be in a position to excel regardless of segregation.”

King’s early authorities profession started with the Military Nationwide Guard Personnel Heart on the Pentagon, the place she was acknowledged with the company’s Meritorious Providers award and promoted as Chief of the Army Personnel Information Department. She transferred to the Federal Emergency Administration Company and have become a extremely certified skilled in recruitment, qualification evaluation, choice, and placement.

After years of presidency service, King returned to the personal sector because the vp of administration for the accounting agency of Gregory Okay. Washington, CPA. She then labored a number of years for a frontrunner in credit score reporting, Equifax Inc., and developed experience in credit score providers.

Changing into the Credit score Grasp

In 1991, King based FMK Credit score Providers, Inc. and served as president and chief govt officer for 14 years. The corporate specialised in finances evaluation, monetary administration, tax preparation, and credit score restoration.

She developed experience within the nonprofit sector whereas working with the American Pink Cross through the nice nationwide disaster of 9/11. Employed as a short lived advisor within the aftermath of the terrorist assault, Florence allotted thousands and thousands of {dollars} in catastrophe reduction funds to the households of victims who died within the World Commerce Heart.

In April 2005, King based FMK Credit score Schooling Heart, which educated customers on monetary practices and credit score points. Acknowledged quite a few instances as a girl/minority-owned enterprise chief within the Metropolis of Alexandria, Florence King utilized her intensive skilled monetary expertise to offer 10,000+ native residents, companies, and nonprofit organizations with high-quality monetary literacy and options.

In June 2016, King began the FMK Monetary Literacy Heart to assist deprived households and senior residents enhance their monetary footing by way of self-sufficiency and homeownership. She wrote an e-book entitled Credit score Survivor, a e-book about how credit score scores are calculated, with an in-depth rationalization of the practices and strategies utilized by the credit score business.

A Lifetime of Giving Again

Florence King was devoted to public service. She served as an Alexandria Metropolis Elections Officer for 25 Years, vice chair of the Alexandria Historic Sources Fee for 15 years, chairwoman of the Metropolis’s Fee on Employment, and the Alexandria Freedman’s Cemetery Steering Committee. She was on the board of administrators for Laurel Grove College Affiliation, which maintains the historic schoolhouse that served the Black kids of Franconia till 1932, referred to as the Laurel Grove Coloured College. It’s the solely remaining African American schoolhouse in Northern Virginia.

Florence served as vice chair of Agenda: Alexandria. This nonpartisan, nonprofit group presents month-to-month applications with an unbiased multi-faceted view of controversial subjects in Alexandria. She additionally served as vp of the Northern Virginia City League Guild and was an lively board member of the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and the Dwelling Legends of Alexandria.

“Florence King was the entire bundle,” stated Jordan Wright. “Those that knew Florence knew how deeply dedicated she was to the Metropolis of Alexandria. She labored tirelessly on a number of boards and committees to make sure that her fellow residents had the assets they deserved. She was a pal and soulmate, and I’ll miss her dearly.”

WEBA (West Finish Enterprise Affiliation) Vice President Mary Ann Burstein advised Zebra, “Florence King was a valued WEBA member and group chief. She was all the time a optimistic mild and an advocate for the West Finish. As a legend, a frontrunner, an advocate, a businesswoman, a pal, and a fantastic particular person, I’ll miss her smile, vitality, and vibrant persona.”

A Dwelling Legend of Alexandria

“Florence King was acknowledged as a Dwelling Legend of Alexandria in 2018,” stated Nina Tisara, founding father of the Dwelling Legends of Alexandria. “I say ‘acknowledged’ as a result of Florence was a Dwelling Legend within the very material of her soul, as evidenced by her lengthy service on many Alexandria boards and commissions. Florence was a present to all who knew her.”

Dwelling Legends of Alexandria acknowledges and honors a small variety of group champions annually, chronicling the lives of individuals making historical past in Alexandria.

Florence King is survived by one son and two daughters, a brother and three sisters. The household has requested privateness right now and can announce a date and extra data concerning a memorial service quickly.

RELATED: Florence King Joins Race for Alexandria Metropolis Council

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