City mourns Mother Viola Fletcher, 111, beacon of resilience and Tulsa massacre survivor

Fletcher’s life was a testament to courage, compassion, and perseverance.

She testified before Congress, shared her story with communities around the world, and was honored internationally for her contributions to civil rights and historical memory.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the countless individuals inspired by her story.

Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family.

Ike Howard, grandson of Viola Ford Fletcher, released the following statement Monday evening:

"Our hearts are broken as we mourn the devastating loss of our beloved matriarch, Mother Viola Ford Fletcher, who passed away at the age of 111. Losing her so soon — just two years after the passing of her younger brother, Hughes Van Ellis, at 102 — has left our family in deep grief. And it brings us great pain to know that they both left this world without receiving the fairness and acknowledgment they deserved for what they endured in 1921.

Mother Fletcher was a pillar of strength and dignity. For more than a century, she carried her memories with courage, grace, and unwavering honesty. She shared her story with the world not for recognition, but because she believed deeply in truth, in perseverance, and in the power of hope — even after the hardest of losses.

At this time, our family is asking for the time and space to grieve. We need this moment to sit with our sorrow, hold one another, and honor her remarkable life. And as we do, we are reminded of one of the greatest lessons she taught us simply by the way she lived:

Never stop believing in what matters to you.

Mother Fletcher held onto her hope for more than a century. She kept speaking. She kept showing up. She kept believing that her voice had meaning — and that every person has the right to stand firm in what they know is right and true.

Her life reminds us all — no matter who we are, where we come from, or what we face — that we should never give up on the things we believe in. Whether it’s family, faith, truth, love, or the future we want for our children, we must hold on. We must keep going.
We will carry that lesson with us always. We owe that to Mother Fletcher. We owe that to Uncle Redd. We owe that to the generations who taught us what strength really looks like.

May her example encourage every person who hears her story to stay steady, stay hopeful, and keep fighting for what matters most to them."

Mayor Monroe Nichols issued the following statement today about the death of Mother Viola Fletcher.

"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 should, yet she spent her life lighting a path forward with purpose. Mother Fletcher carried 111 years of truth, resilience, and grace and was a reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we must still go. She never stopped advocating for justice for the survivors and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and I hope we all can carry forward her legacy with the courage and conviction she modeled every day of her life. On behalf of the city of Tulsa, I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family, loved ones, the Greenwood descendant community, and to every Tulsan who saw hope in her journey. Rest in peace, Mother Fletcher."

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