Dexter Scott King, the youngest child of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has passed away at the age of 62, as announced by the King Center on Monday according to ABC7.
Dexter King's life came to a peaceful end following a "valiant battle with prostate cancer," according to the King Center’s statement. His wife of 11 years, Leah Weber King, shared in a written statement that he "transitioned peacefully" in his sleep at their home in California.
"He fought courageously against this terrible illness until his last moments," Weber King reflected. "In true spirit, like he faced all challenges in his life, he confronted this final hurdle with immense bravery and strength."
Born in Atlanta in 1961, King was named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father began his first pastorate. Tragically, he was only seven when his father was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968.
King mirrored his father’s educational path, attending Morehouse College in Atlanta. Initially drawn to the arts, he moved to California to explore an acting career. However, he eventually dedicated his life to preserving his father's legacy and managing the intellectual property associated with the King family's endeavors.
At the time of his passing, he was serving as the chairman of the King Center.
He leaves behind his wife, his sister Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, and his brother Martin Luther King III. His mother, Coretta Scott King, passed away in 2006, and he was also preceded in death by his sister Yolanda in 2007. Dexter Scott King’s passing marks a profound loss for the King family and those inspired by their relentless pursuit of civil rights and equality.
