Dexter Scott King, Son of Civil Rights Leaders Martin and Coretta King, Dies at 62
By EEW Magazine Online // Notable Deaths
From left, Martin Luther King III, Dr. Bernice King, and Dexter Scott King at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site on May 23, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. Paras Griffin/Getty Images
Dexter Scott King, the esteemed younger progeny of civil rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has passed away, as confirmed by his brother.
At the age of 62, King succumbed to prostate cancer. Leah Weber King, his spouse, remarked in a formal pronouncement that his demise occurred tranquilly during sleep.
Dexter Scott King and his wife Leah Weber King. The two were married in a private ceremony in July 2013. (Getty)
"He valiantly confronted this grievous affliction with all his might, right up to his final moments," she articulated. "Dexter never shied away from life's adversities, and he approached this final challenge with the same courage and resolve."
The news of his brother's untimely departure was conveyed with heavy hearts by Martin Luther King III. "The abruptness of this loss is soul-shattering," he expressed on Monday. "Finding the words to convey our feelings during such a trying time is challenging. I ask that everyone holds the entire King lineage, especially Dexter's spouse, Leah Weber King, in their thoughts and prayers."
Dexter King was named for the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Alabama where his father once served as pastor. (AP)
Dexter King notably depicted his father in the biographical film "The Rosa Parks Story" and was a steadfast advocate for civil rights, serving notable roles as chairman of the King Center and president of the King Estate, as reported by the King Center.
An outpouring of sorrow and disbelief was shared by his sister, Bernice King, the CEO of the King Center. "The agony of losing yet another sibling is indescribable. I am seeking the fortitude to endure this exceedingly sorrowful period," she disclosed.
Known for a striking resemblance to his father, the third child of MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott King, led a fairly private life. (AP)
The Reverend Al Sharpton, the architect and leader of the National Action Network, joined in mourning Dexter King's departure. "Learning of Dexter King's demise this morning left me shattered, yet there is solace in believing that he now rests alongside his beloved parents and sister," Sharpton reflected. "Dexter was a mere child of seven when his father, his idol and beacon of hope, was tragically taken away. He channeled his grief into a force for good, committing his life to furthering the vision that Martin and Coretta Scott King held for their offspring, their descendants, and all future generations."
Dexter King, the third offspring of the King family, was a mere child when the world lost his father to an assassin's bullet in 1968. His namesake is the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father once held the pastoral reins.
The King family previously faced the loss of matriarch Coretta Scott King in 2006, and the passing of their eldest, Yolanda King, in the following year.
