As Viola Fletcher turned 110 years old, her family in Little Elm, Texas, held an extraordinary birthday party.
On May 5, Fletcher, a mother of three and grandmother of six, turned 110. Her relatives, friends, and neighbors all came together on Friday to commemorate the special day with food, flowers, and music.
“I’m real proud to be this age,” Fletcher stated.
Fletcher is the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in Oklahoma.
When she was just 7 years old, groups of white people attacked those residing in what was known as “Black Wall Street” in the Greenwood District. It resulted in the deaths of 300 black people and thousands were left without a residence.
“You don’t forgive someone for them. You forgive people for yourself because it takes a lot of energy to hate a situation or to hate an experience,” Fletcher’s grandson, Howard, stated. He added that his grandmother taught him about the importance of positivity.
When questioned about the secret to living a long life, Fletcher stated that it is more than just one thing.
“I have many, so many I can’t mention. But, it’s a blessing to live this long and easy to do. If I can do it, others can.”
Fletcher started a non-profit foundation that assists individuals with health, education, and other programs. At the time that she was having her birthday celebration, she had collected over $6,200 in donations.
Her relatives say that they desire to see Fletcher keep living out her days and assisting others via her foundation.
