Board of Directors

Virginia Allen - Secretary

Virginia Allen was born on August 15, 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA, the oldest of three children born to Lawrence Allen and Ruth Sutton Allen. The family relocated to Detroit, where she spent her childhood. At 16 years old, Virginia entreated her parents to allow her to move to Staten Island to pursue a career in nursing, inspired by her Aunt Edna Sutton-Ballard, a registered nurse in NYC. In 1947, Virginia started working as a nurse’s aide at Sea View Hospital, the largest tuberculosis sanitarium in the world, as part of the community known as The Black Angels, female nurses of color working and living on Staten Island.

Ms. Allen received her LPN from Central School for Practical Nurses. She became a surgical nurse, then a personnel-training director at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, before starting a career in labor relations with Local 1199 AFL-CIO. She took a hiatus from nursing, attending Cornell University to further her education. A lifelong learner, Virginia also attended NYU and earned an Associate Degree from CSI. She eventually returned to nursing and still holds a current license.

In the 1960s, Virginia began volunteering in the Women’s Crisis Center in Port Richmond. She is also past president of the North Shore Staten Island section of the National Council of Negro Women, has volunteered with Bread and Roses, and on the boards of Cultural Crossroads and ArtLab. She currently serves on the boards of Staten Island OutLOUD and the CSI Auxiliary Board for Grants for Education and Vocation. Virginia is a charter member of The National Council of Negro Women, Staten Island Section; NAACP; New York Urban League; Sandy Ground Historical Society; Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc. Lambda Chapter; Weeksville Society; North Star Lions Club and Staten Island Women’s Club, and the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Virginia’s commitment to her community been recognized through numerous accolades including: A proclamation from the City of New York; the William A. Morris Humanitarian Award; the Staten Island Hope Community Service Award; the Staten Island Advance Woman of Achievement Award, and many others.

Virginia has been a member of the Unitarian Church of Staten Island for over 30 years. She enjoys traveling, is an avid reader, and enjoys arts and crafts. One of her main beliefs is that this world is all we have and it is our duty to care for one another.

Organizational Structure: Frederick Douglass Memorial Park is a 501 (c) 13 Not for Profit corporation.

Membership is composed of plot owners.

Call or Visit

Cemetery Hours:
The Cemetery is open everyday: 9AM – 3PM

Office Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 9AM - 3PM
Friday-Monday: Closed

Family Gatherings:

If you are planning a family gathering at the cemetery it is best to notify the cemetery office.

3201 Amboy
Staten Island New York 10306
(718) 351-0764

fre_dou.memorialpark@outlook.com