Viola Fletcher, the oldest known survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at the age of 111. Her death was confirmed by Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols, who praised her life as a symbol of resilience, grace, and strength. Fletcher passed away peacefully, though the exact date and location were not disclosed.
Known affectionately as “Mother Fletcher,” she was just seven years old when a white mob attacked the prosperous Greenwood District in Tulsa—often called “Black Wall Street.” The massacre destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses, and left as many as 300 Black residents dead. Fletcher’s memories of that night included seeing homes burn, bodies in the street, and even airplanes dropping firebombs from the sky.
In 2021, Fletcher testified before Congress during hearings on reparations for victims and descendants of the massacre. “The neighborhood I fell asleep in that night was rich — not just in terms of wealth, but in culture, community, heritage,” she said. “Within a few hours, all that was gone.” She described the fear and chaos of fleeing with her family by horse and buggy, only to return to nothing.
Despite the trauma, Fletcher dedicated her life to sharing her story and demanding justice. Alongside other survivors, she became a key figure in the push for reparations, filing lawsuits and speaking across the country. She also co-authored a memoir and was the subject of documentaries and tributes that honored her legacy.
Mayor Nichols said Fletcher never stopped fighting for the truth and for justice: “She was a reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we must still go.”
Fletcher is survived by two sons and a daughter. With her passing, the number of living witnesses to the Tulsa Race Massacre grows even smaller, marking the end of a living chapter in American history.
