Second victim identified from the Tulsa Race Massacre

Researchers have identified a second victim of the Tulsa Race Massacre. His name is James Goings, but right now, researchers said there is no DNA that ties Goings to a specific burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. The city also announced the identification of another individual buried at Oaklawn Cemetery but are working to confirm whether he was killed in the massacre.

Wednesday, June 18th 2025, 9:18 pm

By: MaKayla Glenn

TULSA, Okla. -

Researchers have identified a second victim of the Tulsa Race Massacre. His name is James Goings, but right now, researchers said there is no DNA that ties Goings to a specific burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. The city also announced the identification of another individual buried at Oaklawn Cemetery, but is working to confirm whether he was killed in the massacre.

Q: What recent discovery has been made regarding the Tulsa Race Massacre?

A: Researchers on Wednesday announced they have identified a second victim of the Tulsa Race Massacre, and said evidence suggests that more victims may be buried at Oaklawn Cemetery.

Q: Who is the newly confirmed victim?

A: The newly identified victim is James Goings, who researchers identified through historical documents from the Veterans Administration. Researchers said there is no DNA yet that ties Goings to a specific burial at Oaklawn Cemetery.

The city said researchers learned about Goings because someone came forward with information. The person had a family booklet saying that a “Mr. Goins” was “killed in the Tulsa riot.” From there, researchers requested documents from the Veterans Compensation File in the National Archives. The city announced a letter written on June 9, 1921, stated that Goings was killed “in the recent disturbances there.” Another letter from his sister, written in the 1930s, said James died June 1, 1921.

The first Tulsa Race Massacre victim identified at Oaklawn by a team of archeologists and genealogists is WWI veteran C.L. Daniel. His name was announced in July of 2024.

Other victims’ names have been identified in past research through death certificates and newspaper articles.

Q: Researchers identified another individual buried at Oaklawn. What do genealogists know about that person?

George Gillispie Image Provided By: City of Tulsa

A: Researchers also announced on Wednesday that another individual buried at Oaklawn Cemetery has been identified. His name is George Melvin Gillispie, a late-to-middle-aged man buried in a wooden casket with no signs of trauma.

Genealogists are working to determine whether Gillispie was killed during the massacre.

The city shared what researchers know about Gillispie so far:

“George was born in 1881 and has no known cause of death. George's last proof of life comes from documentation from Payne County, Oklahoma, in December of 1920. Later documents that mention George were from his wife's subsequent marriage, when in 1924, she stated that her previous husband was already dead - putting his death somewhere between 1920 and 1924.”

Q: What did Mayor Monroe Nichols say about the information gathered?

A: Mayor Monroe Nichols mentioned that there is substantial information, with three letters being particularly convincing in identifying Goings.

Q: What insights did Dr. Kary Stackelbeck provide about the latest on the search?

A: Dr. Stackelbeck explained that 28 individuals found in the search at Oaklawn stand out and are more likely to be potential massacre victims than other individuals found at Oaklawn. To date, researchers said they have documentation of at least 193 graves in section 20 of Oaklawn Cemetery.

She said each of those 28 individuals fit at least two of the characteristics for the scientists’ target profile:

1) Evidence of trauma

2) Male

3) Interred in a simple wooden burial container

Q: What is Brenda Nails Alford’s perspective as a member of the team?

A: Brenda Alford, a Greenwood native and descendant of massacre victims, expressed gratitude for the investigation, emphasizing the importance of uncovering history for families and the community.

Q: What does Mayor Monroe Nichols believe about the potential for more victims?

A: Mayor Nichols is optimistic that more massacre victims will be found at Oaklawn, stating that current findings indicate they are on the right track to uncover the truth.

Q: What are the next steps for archaeologists and genealogists?

A: The mass graves team plans to return to Oaklawn Cemetery in late summer or early fall, contingent on budget availability.

Q: How can the public contribute to identifying more victims?

A: Forensic teams are encouraging public participation in DNA testing and workshops. One workshop is scheduled for this weekend. You can find more information here.