Atlanta, GA – In a heartbreaking announcement today, the King Center revealed that Dexter King, son of the legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., passed away on January 22 at the age of 62. The cause of death was cited as a “valiant battle with prostate cancer.” Dexter, named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father served his first pastorate, grew up in the shadow of his father’s legacy.
Dexter King’s wife and best friend of 21 years, Leah Weber King, shared the somber news, stating that he transitioned peacefully in his sleep at their home in Malibu. “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 expressed. The sudden loss has left the King family and their supporters in shock and grief.
Born on January 30, 1961, in Atlanta, Dexter King was the second-born son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Losing his father at the tender age of seven when Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, Dexter grew up in Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, following in his father’s footsteps to Morehouse College. Dexter was not only a graduate of Frederick Douglas High School but also a dedicated protector of his father’s legacy. At the time of his passing, he served as both Chairman of The King Center and President of the King Estate, focusing on the management and licensing of the intellectual property left behind by his iconic parents. The King family is requesting prayers during this difficult time.
In Memoriam: Dexter King (1961-2024)
