Dr. Fleming was the first recipient of the J. Eugene Grigsby Award for meritorious service to art education by the Committee on Multicultural Affairs of the National Art Education Association. She also was co-founder and executive director of the Partners-in-Art youth program, which was selected to be one of 25 university projects nationwide invited to present at the 2012 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The program was honored for its dedication to educating central San Joaquin Valley youth in art through the “Hungry for Art/ART FOR HUNGER” project. Dr. Fleming was instrumental in coordinating Kwanzaa events for children and youth at the Martin Luther King Square Apartments in West Fresno as part of the Saturday Art Workshop series.

She was currently working on a mural project with children and youth at the Lafayette Park and Community Center in collaboration with Partners in Arts, the City of Fresno and The Way Ministries…John 14:6.

In 2008, she was honored as California Visual Art Educator of the Year by the National Art Education Association.

“We will cherish her memory and will miss her commitment to the University’s students and colleagues,” said Martin Valencia, chair of the art department, in a statement. “The community will miss a great ambassador for the children and social justice.”

Fleming was known for her advocacy of Fresno’s Westside. “Paulette had achieved so much and never gave up caring for the many causes she supported,” noted her colleague Nick Potter on Facebook.

Dr. Fleming is survived by her daughter, Jamillah Finley of Fresno, and three grandchildren. - Fresno State University Communications Office
 

Homegoing Services for Dr. Paulette Fleming

Viewing - Friday, October 23, 2015
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Jesse E. Cooley Funeral Home
1830 S. Fruit
Fresno, CA 93706

Homegoing Service - Saturday, October 24, 2015
11:00 a.m.
Westside Church of God
1422 W. California Ave.
Fresno, CA 93706