The T-Okie Civic & Social Club of Tatums, Oklahoma, is a vital community-based organization dedicated to preserving the heritage, strengthening the future, and contributing to the well-being of the historic town of Tatums. Founded in 1961 by Viola Montgomery Summerlin when she came up with the idea to organize a family reunion for the people with roots in Tatums. And the name "T-Okie" is a portmanteau of Tatums, Oklahoma. Tatums is one of Oklahoma’s remaining historically Black towns, founded in the late 1800s and known for its rich legacy of self-determination, community pride, and cultural resilience.
So, since then, the spirit of T-Okie traces back to generations of Tatums residents and former residents who remained connected to their hometown through reunions, community celebrations, and civic engagement. Historical accounts note that T- Okie has brought together thousands of people from across the country to celebrate their shared roots through parades, music, food, fellowship, and cultural activities that still carries on until this day.
