Mother Viola Ford Fletcher, one of the last survivors of the Tulsa Massacre, dies at age 111

Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, has died.

Fletcher was known for living through one of the deadliest white supremacist attacks in the country: the massacre that devastated “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa. Now the city mourns one of its greatest elders and symbols of resilience in dark times.

Her death was announced on November 24 by current Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols. The city’s first black mayor, Nichols, also noted the legacy and life of this mother figure in the community.

“Today, our city mourns the loss of Mother Viola Fletcher – a survivor of one of the darkest chapters in our city’s history. Mother Fletcher endured more than anyone, yet she spent her life lighting a path forward with purpose. Mother Fletcher carried 111 years of truth, resilience and grace, reminding us of how far we have come and how far we still have to go,” Nichols wrote, according to Fox 23.

Born in 1914, Fletcher was just a young girl when she endured such a serious act of racial violence in her hometown. Fueled by prejudiced hatred and escalating racial tensions, a mob of thousands of people destroyed the prosperous black city by burning its businesses and leaving nearly 300 black Tulsans dead, according to the Equal Justice Initiative. Deemed a “coordinated military-style attack” by the Justice Department, it remains one of the darkest moments in American history.

While in the spotlight as a survivor of the tragedy, Fletcher dedicated her life to justice for the loved ones lost and devastated by the attack. She continued to advocate for them well into her later years, even working on a lawsuit seeking reparations for the massacre victims. Although the Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed the case in 2024, her continued efforts for some semblance of justice have made her a pioneer of truth and courage.

Nichols added, “She never stopped advocating for justice for the survivors and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and I hope we can all continue her legacy with the courage and conviction she showed every day of her life. On behalf of the city of Tulsa, I offer my sincere condolences to her family, loved ones, the community of Greenwood descendants and to every Tulsan who saw hope in her journey. Rest in peace, Mother Fletcher.”

A year before the case was dismissed, Fletcher, with the help of her grandson, Ike Howard, released a memoir of her life. Titled Don’t Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Massacre In Her Own Words, the book chronicles her journey and life, ensuring that those who died and lived on after the tragedy remain uplifted.

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