Tulsa Race Massacre Survivor Viola Ford Fletcher Passes, City to Compensate Victims

Good morning, this is Tulsa Local Pulse for Thursday, November 27th, 2025. We're starting this Thanksgiving morning with a somber moment to reflect on local history. Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest known survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, has passed away at the age of 111. Mother Fletcher, as she was known in our community, died surrounded by family on Monday after spending more than a century carrying the memories of that horrific day in 1921 when she was just seven years old. She witnessed the destruction of the Greenwood district, Black Wall Street as it was called, and never stopped telling her story. In her 2023 memoir, she described how the nightmare of that experience haunted her every single night for a hundred years. Fletcher's courage in testifying before Congress in 2021 and her willingness to pursue justice through the courts helped lead to a Justice Department acknowledgment of what happened. Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols announced earlier this year that the city would work to raise 105 million dollars by 2026 to compensate survivors and their descendants. With her passing, just one survivor remains, 111-year-old Lessie Evelyn Benningfield Randle. Fletcher's legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of truth-telling and reconciliation in our community's history. On the education front, we have some significant developments. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Bible mandate in public schools, now that newly appointed State Superintendent Lindel Fields has announced plans to nullify the controversial requirement. The six new members of the State Board of Education have also committed to stopping other Bible-related mandates from the previous administration, including using taxpayer money to purchase classroom Bibles. This decision means Oklahoma families and students will continue to make their own choices about religious instruction in the home rather than through state mandate. Over in North Charleston, we're proud to note that local hockey talent Seth Eisele has been recalled by the Hershey Bears after playing for the South Carolina Stingrays. Looking at today's weather, we'll have typical late November conditions as we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends across the Tulsa area. On the business side, the city continues moving forward with various development projects and initiatives. The Oklahoma State Chamber is actively promoting its Oklahoma Competes Education Reform Plan throughout the region, highlighting concerns about literacy outcomes in our state. This morning we also want to send thoughts and prayers to the Tulsa Police Department, which recently said farewell to one of its most courageous officers, Aurash Zarkeshan. As we gather with loved ones today, we're reminded of the importance of community, storytelling, and preserving the histories that shaped our Tulsa home. Thank you for tuning in to Tulsa Local Pulse. Be sure to subscribe for more local updates tomorr This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.