Viola Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa race massacre, celebrated her 111th birthday in Texas on 10 May. Congressman Al Green and talk show host Tavis Smiley shared the latest photos on their Facebook profiles.
Early Life
Fletcher was born in Comanche, Oklahoma, on 10 May 1914, to parents Lucinda Ellis and John Wesley Ford. She was the second oldest of eight children. Her family were sharecroppers who worked tirelessly on rented land to make ends meet. Eventually, the Ford family moved to Tulsa in search of better opportunities. They settled in the Greenwood District, where they became members of St. Andrew, a Black Baptist church.
At the age of seven, she witnessed the Tulsa Race Massacre on 31 May and 1 June 1921. She recalled being in bed on the night of 31 May when her mother suddenly woke the family to flee, having seen dead bodies and men being shot. The family lost their home, belongings, and sense of security. Her family struggled to find a safe place to live and the resources needed to survive. They had nothing left but the clothes on their backs. The instability also disrupted Viola’s education—she had to leave school after the fourth grade due to the family’s difficult circumstances.
(Source: Facebook / Rep. Al Green)
Later Life
On 17 December 1932, at the age of 18, she married Robert Fletcher, and the couple moved to California in search of better opportunities. During World War II, Viola and Robert worked in the rapidly growing shipyard industry, contributing to the war effort. Viola served as an assistant welder—a physically demanding and essential role.
After the war, the Fletchers returned to Oklahoma to raise their three children. Viola cleaned houses, displaying a tireless work ethic that kept her employed well into her 80s.
In 2020, Fletcher, along with fellow survivors—including her younger brother Hughes Van Ellis and Lessie Randle—filed a lawsuit against the City of Tulsa, the Tulsa Board of Commissioners, and the Oklahoma Military Department. They sought reparations for the destruction and losses suffered in Greenwood during the 1921 massacre. However, a Tulsa County District Judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2023.
LongeviQuest extends warm congratulations to Viola Fletcher on her 111th birthday.
