Dexter Scott King, Son of Martin Luther King Jr., Passes Away at 62
Dexter Scott King, the son of iconic civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., has sadly passed away at the age of 62. The news of his death was confirmed by his family, who revealed that he lost his battle with prostate cancer on Sunday in California.
The Rev. Bernice King, the youngest of the King children, expressed her heartbreak over the loss, stating, “Words cannot express the heartbreak. I’m praying for strength to get through this very difficult time.” The sudden shock of Dexter’s passing has left the entire King family devastated, and they are now asking for prayers from their supporters.
Dexter King was known for his resemblance to his father and his dedication to preserving his family’s legacy. He attended Morehouse College and went on to become the chairman of the King Center, where he worked tirelessly to protect his father’s work and intellectual property. He also served as the president of the King Estate.
The King Center released a statement honoring Dexter’s commitment to his father’s legacy, saying, “He was the family member delegated to take on the mantle of continuing the precedent his father set by legally protecting his work. He devoted his life to the continued perpetuation of his father’s legacy and the protection of the intellectual property his father left behind.”
Born and named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father served as pastor, Dexter King’s life was deeply intertwined with the civil rights movement. Tragically, he was only 7 years old when his father was assassinated in 1968. He experienced further heartache when his mother, Coretta Scott King, passed away in 2006, followed by his sister, Yolanda King, in 2007.
Dexter King’s passing leaves a void in the King family, but he is survived by his wife, Leah Weber. The details surrounding his cause of death have not been disclosed.
This news of Dexter Scott King’s death has deeply saddened the community and serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of his father’s work in the fight for civil rights. Dexter’s dedication to continuing that legacy and protecting his father’s intellectual property will forever be remembered.
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This article was originally published on TODAY.com
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