Dexter King, younger son of rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, dies

Dexter Scott King, the younger son of American late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King, died of prostate cancer on Monday.

He was 62.

The King Center in Atlanta said Dexter breathed his last at his home in Malibu, California. However, Dexter King served the King Center as chair.

In a statement, his wife, Leah Weber King, said that Dexter died “peacefully in his sleep.”

She said Dexter Scott King gave it everything and fought his awful disease until his death.

“He faced this hurdle with bravery and might as with all the challenges in his life,” she said.

His sister Rev Dr Bernice A King, chief executive officer (CEO) of The King Center, said, “I feel from losing another sibling that words cannot express the heartbreak.”

She also said she is praying for strength to get through this very difficult time.

Stating that the sudden shock is devastating, his brother Martin Luther King, III said it is hard to have the right words at a moment like this. However, he asks for all prayers at this time for the entire King family.

Born in Atlanta on January 30, 1961, Dexter King was named after Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father served his first pastorate.

His father was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968 when he was seven years old.

Dexter, who followed in his father’s footsteps to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, served as both chairman of the King Center and president of the King Estate at the time of his father’s death.

As an actor, he also portrayed his father in the television movie “The Rosa Parks Story” in 2002.

Reverend Al Sharpton, founder and president of civil rights organization the National Action Network has expressed deep shock at Dexter’s death, saying he was “heartbroken” to hear of Dexter Scott King’s passing.

Sharpton said in a statement, “His father was taken from us when Dexter was only seven when his hero, his role model, and, most importantly.”

His mother died in 2006, as did his sister Yolanda in 2007.

Dexter now left behind his wife Leah Weber King, sister Bernice King, brother Martin Luther King III, niece, Yolanda Renee King, and other family members.