Martin Luther King’s Son, Dexter Dies at 62

In a sad announcement, The King Centre revealed that Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Dr. Martin Luther King, passed away peacefully at his home in Malibu on Monday, January 22.

Dexter, born on January 30, 1961, and named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father served, succumbed to prostate cancer at the age of 62.

Dexter’s valiant battle with the disease came to an end, and he passed away in his sleep. His wife of 11 years, Leah Weber King, and best friend of 21 years were reportedly present during his final moments.

Leah King remarked, “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.”

Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King, Dexter’s sister and CEO of The King Centre, shared words of heartbreak, stating, “Words cannot express the heartbreak I feel from losing another sibling. I’m praying for strength to get through this very difficult time.” Dexter Scott King was only seven years old when his iconic father, the human rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

May Dexter Scott King rest in eternal peace.