Dexter Scott King, the esteemed third child of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, passed away on Monday following a courageous battle with prostate cancer, as announced by the King Center. A significant figure in his own right, King, 62, was named after an Alabama church where his father once served as a pastor. At the tender age of 7, he experienced the tragic assassination of his father in 1968, an event that left an indelible mark on the Civil Rights Movement.
According to the King Center, Dexter Scott King went on to pursue his education at Morehouse College in Atlanta. His commitment to his father’s legacy was evident throughout his life, as he served as the chairman of the King Center and president of the King Estate. Notably, he dedicated himself to safeguarding the intellectual property left behind by his iconic father.
Martin Luther King III expressed profound sorrow at the sudden loss of his brother, stating, “The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. Please keep the entire King family in your prayers.”
The passing of Dexter Scott King follows the deaths of his mother in 2006 and his sister Yolanda King in 2007, marking another profound loss for the King family. In a poignant statement, the Rev. Bernice A. King, Dexter King’s sister, remarked, “Words cannot express the heartbreak I feel from losing another sibling.”
In summary, Dexter Scott King’s life was intricately intertwined with the enduring legacy of his father, and his contributions to preserving and advancing the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement will be remembered. The King family, having endured multiple losses, faces another challenging moment as they bid farewell to a dedicated guardian of their family’s history.
