Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Youngest Son, Dexter Scott King, Dies

Dexter Scott King, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s youngest son and third child, died on Monday at age 62 due to complications from prostate cancer. A memorial service will be announced at a later time.

Born in Atlanta on January 30, 1961, he was named after Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery Alabama, where his father served his first pastorate. The 62-year-old was the second-born son of Dr. & Mrs. King and was only seven years old when his father was assassinated in Memphis, TN in 1968. Like his father, he grew up in Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where his grandfather served as Pastor. He was a graduate of Frederick Douglas High School, where he played football and participated in many other school organizations. He then he followed his father's footsteps to Morehouse College in Atlanta Georgia.

The son of the Civil Rights icons was the family member delegated to take on the mantel of continuing the precedent his father set by legally protecting his work. He devoted his life to the continued perpetuation of his father's legacy and the protection of the intellectual property (IP) his father left behind.  At the time of his death Dexter served as both Chairman of The King Center and President of the King Estate. Becoming well versed in intellectual property law, and its management and licensing was the result of his dedication to the delegated task and the memory of both his father and mother.

Known to be humble about his uncanny resemblance to his father, he portrayed him in the 2002 television movie The Rosa Parks Story. The actor had a love for the creative arts and initially relocated to California to pursue a career in acting.  But family duty called and he answered, living out the rest of his life balancing both his love of the arts and his duties to the King family legacy.

At a private ceremony in July of 2013, he married his best friend and longtime partner, Leah Weber.  Mrs. Leah Weber King is a New Orleans native, former broadcast journalist, entrepreneur, and consultant. Together they built a life of love, support and unconditional love, much like that of Dexter's mother and father.

He was preceded in death by his father (1968), his mother (2006) and sister Yolanda (2007). He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 11 years Leah Weber King, his sister Rev. Dr.Bernice A. King and his brother Martin Luther King, III.

 

 

 

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