Dexter Scott King, the son of the legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., has passed away at the age of 62 after battling prostate cancer. The family confirmed Dexter King’s death on Sunday in California.
“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,” expressed Martin Luther King III, the oldest surviving child of Martin Luther King Jr., in a statement.
Dexter King, who strikingly resembled his iconic father, attended Morehouse College and played a crucial role in preserving and protecting his family’s legacy. He served as the chairman of the King Center, leading efforts to safeguard his father’s intellectual property. Dexter was also president of the King Estate, dedicating his life to upholding the precedent set by Martin Luther King Jr.
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“He was the family member delegated to take on the mantle of continuing the precedent his father set by legally protecting his work,” stated the King Center in a tribute. “He devoted his life to the continued perpetuation of his father’s legacy and the protection of the intellectual property his father left behind.”
Dexter King, named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father served as pastor, was just 7 years old when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968. He faced the additional losses of his mother, Coretta Scott King, in 2006, and his sister, Yolanda King, in 2007.
Dexter King leaves behind a lasting impact on the ongoing legacy of the King family.
The King Center, in acknowledging his significant contributions, highlighted his dedication to preserving the ideals and intellectual property of Martin Luther King Jr. Dexter King is survived by his wife, Leah Weber. The family has requested prayers during this difficult time.
