The announcement emanating from The King Center bears the solemn news of the demise of Dexter Scott King, the youngest scion and third progeny of the esteemed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
On January 22, at the age of 62, King succumbed to the relentless throes of prostate cancer, as conveyed by the King Center. Leah Weber King, his steadfast companion of 21 years and spouse for 11, recounted his tranquil transition in the sanctuary of their Malibu residence.
“He relinquished his mortal coil with serenity, succumbing to the pernicious grasp of prostate cancer,” she lamented. Undaunted, he confronted the affliction with fortitude and resilience, an indomitable spirit that characterized his confrontations with life’s tribulations.
His sibling, the Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King, at the helm of The King Center, articulated the profound sorrow enveloping her being at the loss of another kin. “In this poignant juncture, I implore for the strength to navigate this formidable tempest,” she expressed, grappling with the emotional tempest unfurling within. Martin Luther King, III, the brother, added a dimension of raw emotion, acknowledging the shattering impact of the abrupt revelation. “The abrupt shock is incapacitating. Crafting apt words in this dolorous moment proves elusive. We entreat your prayers for solace, extended to the entire King family.”
Dexter, born in Atlanta on January 30, 1961, drew his name from the venerable Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father commenced his pastoral journey. The second progeny of Dr. and Mrs. King, he endured the tragic loss of his father in 1968, a mere seven years of age, when the specter of assassination loomed over Memphis, Tennessee.
His upbringing unfolded within the hallowed precincts of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, under the pastoral stewardship of his grandfather. The crucible of intellectual growth led him through Frederick Douglass High School, where he actively engaged in football and diverse scholastic pursuits, culminating in his enrollment at Morehouse College, tracing the footsteps of his iconic father.
Assuming the mantle of safeguarding his father’s legacy and intellectual property, Dexter dedicated himself to the intricate landscape of intellectual property law, concurrently serving as Chairman of The King Center and President of the King Estate.
A symbiotic dance between artistic inclination and familial duty characterized his journey, as he balanced the pursuit of a career in acting, exemplified by his portrayal of his father in the 2002 television movie “The Rosa Parks Story.”
In the realm of personal bonds, a private union in July 2013 united Dexter with Leah Weber, a native of New Orleans, former broadcast journalist, entrepreneur, and consultant. Their alliance mirrored the ethos of unconditional love and unwavering support, echoing the timeless love story encapsulated by Dexter’s parents.
Preceded in death by his father (1968), mother (2006), and sister Yolanda (2007), Dexter leaves behind a legacy survived by his devoted spouse Leah Weber King, sister Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, brother Martin Luther King, III, and niece Yolanda Renee King.
The King family, in their moment of grief, implores for privacy, with responses to media inquiries slated for a press conference scheduled on Tuesday, January 23, at 10 a.m., within The King Center’s Yolanda D. King Theatre housed in Freedom Hall.