Dexter Scott King, the youngest son and the third child of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, passed away on Monday at the age of 62, according to the King Center, after a valiant battle with prostate cancer.
“He transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home with me in Malibu”, says his best friend of 21 years, his strongest supporter and wife of 11 years, Leah Weber King. “He gave it everything and battled this terrible disease until the end. As with all the challenges in his life, he faced this hurdle with bravery and might.”
He was preceded in death by his father (1968), his mother (2006) and sister Yolanda (2007). He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 11 years Leah Weber King, his sister Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, his brother Martin Luther King, III, and his neice, Yolanda Renee King.
“Words cannot express the heartbreak I feel from losing another sibling. I’m praying for strength to get through this very difficult time,” said his sister, Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, in a statement.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) is a 501(c) (3) organization established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King committed to educating the world on the life, legacy, and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Born in Atlanta on January 30, 1961, Dexter Scott King was named after Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery Alabama, where his father served his first pastorate. The 62-year-old was the second-born son of Dr. & Mrs. King and was only seven years old when his father was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. on April 4, 1968.
“He devoted his life to the continued perpetuation of his father’s legacy and the protection of the intellectual property (IP) his father left behind,” the King Center said in a statement announcing his passing. “At the time of his death, Dexter served as both chairman of The King Center and president of the King Estate. Becoming well versed in intellectual property law, and its management and licensing was the result of his dedication to the delegated task and the memory of both his father and mother.”
The King family will respond to media inquiries following a press conference planned for Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. ET, at The King Center’s Yolanda D. King Theatre inside Freedom Hall.
A memorial service will be announced at a later time.
