Viola Ford Fletcher Dies at Age 111, Over 100 Years After Surviving the Tulsa Race Massacre

Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has passed away at the remarkable age of 111. Known affectionately as “Mother Fletcher,” she was merely seven years old when the devastating two-day attack, perpetrated by a White mob, commenced in Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood on May 31, 1921.

Fletcher’s grandson, Ike Howard, shared with CNN and the Associated Press that she peacefully departed on Monday, Nov. 24, surrounded by her loving family. Reflecting on her life, Howard described her as someone who cherished life and people. Confirming the news, Oklahoma Sen. Regina Goodwin expressed her solidarity with Fletcher’s grieving family at a local hospital.

The Tulsa Race Massacre, where as many as 300 Black individuals lost their lives, resulted in the burning of thirty-five city blocks and inflicted lasting trauma, segregation, and financial struggles upon the Black community in the city. Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols lauded Fletcher’s resilience, noting how she illuminated a path towards progress despite enduring unimaginable hardships.

Born on May 10, 1914, in Oklahoma, Fletcher spent her early years basking in the idyllic atmosphere of Greenwood before the tragic massacre forced her family to flee. Their subsequent journey as sharecroppers living in a tent shaped Fletcher’s tenacious spirit. Despite only receiving a fourth-grade education, she narrated the horrors she witnessed in her memoir, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story,” released in 2023.

Returning to Tulsa at 16, Fletcher commenced her career at a department store and later ventured to California, where she worked as a welder during World War II. Following a turbulent marriage, she resettled in Oklahoma, working as a housekeeper until the age of 85 before returning to Tulsa. Howard expressed her hope that relocating back would bolster her pursuit of justice.

Fletcher, along with fellow survivors Hughes Van Ellis and Lessie Benningfield Randle, embarked on a legal battle in 2021 seeking redress from Tulsa for the atrocities they endured. Despite the dismissal of their claims by The Oklahoma Supreme Court in June 2024, Fletcher and Randle remained resolute in shedding light on this dark episode in American history.

The painful memories of that dreadful day in 1921 continued to haunt Fletcher, as she shared her enduring trauma of witnessing the destruction and loss of lives during the massacre. The Tulsa Race Massacre stands as a harrowing reminder of the racism and violence that stained American history, claiming hundreds of innocent lives and destroying a flourishing Black community.

The events leading up to the massacre, triggered by racial tensions and a false accusation against a young Black man, culminated in a devastating display of hate and violence perpetrated against the Black residents of Greenwood. The subsequent destruction of homes, businesses, and lives underscored the enduring legacy of racial injustice and inequality in America.

In conclusion, Viola Ford Fletcher’s indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment to seeking justice and remembrance for the victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre serve as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Her legacy will continue to inspire future generations to confront the injustices of the past and strive for a more equitable and compassionate society.