Cancer Claims the life of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Youngest Son Dexter
By Tyrone Jennings II, B.A.
Writer
January 24, 2024
Dexter Scott King, 52, died peacefully at his home on Monday January 22, 2024, following his fight against prostate cancer according to statements from his wife Leah Weber King and The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change.
Kings’ death comes exactly one week after the nation paused for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 15, 2024.
Weber King said in a statement from The King Center, “He transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home with me in Malibu.” She added, “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.”
You can watch the entire candlelight musical that was held in his honor below:
Dexter’s older brother Martin Luther King III said in a statement, “I am deeply saddened to share that my brother, Dexter Scott King, has passed away. The sudden shock is devastating. It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. Please keep the entire King family in your prayers, and in particular Dexter’s wife, Leah Weber.”
Dexter graduated from Moore house College where he majored in Business Administration. He went on to serve as chairperson of The King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, a nonprofit his mother the late Coretta Scott King started after the assignation of his father the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He later became president of the King Estate, The King Center added.
Civil Rights and political leaders also expressed their condolences.
The Rev. Al Sharpton said he was “heartbroken to hear that Dexter King left us this morning, but I was comforted by the knowledge he is reunited with his parents and sister.”
Dexter was proceeded in death by his father Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (April 4, 1968), his mother Coretta Scott King (January 30, 2006), and his sister Ms. Yolanda Denise King (May 15, 2007)
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Leah Weber King (m. 2013), his sister Bernice King, and his brother Martin Luther King III along with a host of other family members and friends.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also expressed his condolences to Dexter’s family. “His profound and unwavering love for his family positioned him as a guardian of his father and mother’s legacies,” the mayor said of Dexter in a news release.
According to the American Cancer Society there is currently no cure for the disease. Early detection is one of the most crucial factors in winning the fight against prostate cancer. Routine screenings include both blood tests and Digital Rectal Examinations (DRE) and are usually performed right in the doctor’s office.
Men over 40-years-old should talk to their doctor about their risk factors, screening, and treatment options.
His body was cremated to honor his wishes.
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