Martin Luther King Jr.'s Son Dexter Scott King Dead at 62
Dexter Scott King
Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has died. He was 62.
The King Center announced his passing, stating that he died after battling prostate cancer. “He transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home with me in Malibu," his wife, Leah Weber King, shared.
"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 went on. The family has not said when he was diagnosed or shared any further details about his passing.
Dexter is survived by his wife, his sister Dr. Bernice King, his brother Martin Luther King III, and his niece, Yolanda Renee King. He married his wife Leah in 2013, and he would've celebrated his 63rd birthday on Jan. 30.
Dexter's eldest sister, Yolanda Denise King, passed away in 2007. He is also predeceased by his parents, as King was assassinated in 1968 while Coretta passed in 2006.
His sister Bernice shared some words regarding her brother's death, saying in the King Center's statement, “Words cannot express the heartbreak I feel from losing another sibling. I’m praying for strength to get through this very difficult time."
"The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. We ask for your prayers at this time for the entire King family," said his brother.
The King family asked for privacy and stated that there will be a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. EST. Information about a memorial service for Dexter is forthcoming.
Like his parents before him, Dexter was an outspoken civil rights activist, and he was also vocal about animal rights. At the time of his death, he was the chairman of the King Center as well as the president of the King estate.
