In Memoriam
In Memoriam: Dexter Scott King, youngest son of Martin Luther King Jr., dies at 62
Dexter Scott King, the youngest son and third child of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has died.
Dexter Scott King, the youngest son and third child of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has died.
He was 62.
Statement on the passing of Dexter Scott King
The King Center announced in a statement that Dexter died on Monday after a “valiant battle with prostate cancer.”
“He transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home with me in Malibu,” his wife of 11 years, Leah Weber King, said in a statement.
“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,” she added.
Legacy
Dexter, who was just 7 years old when his father was assassinated in 1968, served as the chairman of the King Center at the time of his death.
Dexter Scott King (John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA • CC BY-SA 2.0)
“The son of the Civil Rights icons 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,” read the King Center’s statement.
Born on Jan. 30, 1961, Decter was named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father “served his first pastorate.” He went on to follow in his father’s footsteps by attending Morehouse College.
“Known to be humble about his uncanny resemblance to his father, he portrayed him in the 2002 television movie, The Rosa Parks Story,” per the statement.
Although he initially relocated to California to pursue a career in acting, “family duty called and he answered.”
Dexter’s sister, Dr. Bernice A. King, the CEO of The King Center, said that words couldn’t express her heartbreak.
“I’m praying for strength to get through this very difficult time,” she added.
“We send our love and deepest condolences to the King family on the passing of Dexter Scott King,” The King Center shared in a statement on social media.
“His legacy as a humanitarian and Civil Rights activist lives on. May he rest in peace.”
Real stories. Real impact. Straight to your inbox. Join thousands others. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter today!
Follow us on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram
Pregnant mother of two killed in Atlanta highway shooting while driving home
South Florida woman reportedly set on fire by roommate, GoFundMe launched to support medical costs
Boston’s Black Market Nubian faces April 30 closure as community mobilizes to save cultural hub
Man charged in March crash that killed beloved New Jersey mother
Ashlee Jenae’s father launches GoFundMe to help family bury late influencer
New Jersey police reach $4 million settlement with children of woman killed by ex-husband, a former police officer
Asbury Park High School: Crossover event esports and history with Tina Watson
Jury awards California woman $15 million after supervisor called her n-word
GoFundMe launched for Cleveland deacon recovering after brutal attack outside church
Virgin Islands announces lineup for 74th annual St. Thomas Carnival Village
OWN greenlights first-ever ‘Belle Collective’ spinoff Belle Collective: Birmingham
Hazel Scott’s legacy returns to Harlem in free outdoor film screening
Olympic Gymnast Frederick Richard sets world record, raises $50K for Ugandan youth
Renee Ferguson, trailblazing investigative journalist, dies at 75
“AfroPoP Digital Shorts” returns to the land with “Sweet Samara,” climate and abolitionist film
-
Community2 weeks agoDallas barber creates sensory‑friendly haircut experiences for neurodivergent children
-
Community2 weeks agoGoFundMe launched for family of 7‑month‑old girl killed in Brooklyn shooting
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoFlorida Vice Mayor found slain at home was sister of Parkland survivor who died by suicide
-
In Memoriam2 weeks agoDee Freeman, veteran actress known for The Young and the Restless and Sistas, dies at 66
-
Community2 weeks agoArkansas mother fights for her life as she awaits rare dual organ transplant
-
New Jersey4 days agoAshlee Jenae’s father launches GoFundMe to help family bury late influencer
-
Crime & Justice5 days agoPregnant rapper and nursing student Qualeisha “Siditty” Barnes fatally shot in Atlanta
-
In Memoriam1 week agoAfrika Bambaataa’s legacy and controversy: Remembering the hip-hop pioneer
-
Community3 days agoBoston’s Black Market Nubian faces April 30 closure as community mobilizes to save cultural hub
-
Crime & Justice1 day agoSouth Florida woman reportedly set on fire by roommate, GoFundMe launched to support medical costs