Dexter Scott King, youngest son of MLK, dies of prostate cancer at 62

(Updated)

Dexter Scott King, son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, passed away on Monday, January 22, at his home in California.

At the age of 62, he lost his courageous battle with prostate cancer. His wife, Leah Weber King, confirmed his peaceful transition at their home in Malibu, stating, “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.” Dexter married Leah in 2013, but the couple did not have children.

On the day of his passing, at an emotional press conference at the King Nonviolent Center for Social Change in Atlanta, Dr. Bernice King announced that her brother had been cremated the same day in keeping with his wishes. She provided additional details of her brother’s battle with the disease and his efforts to keep their famous father’s legacy alive.

Bernice said Dexter battled prostate cancer for three and a half years and died in his sleep at his home in California. “He fought to the very last minute,” she said. “Dexter kept the faith. His might was strong until the end.” Bernice went on to say, “Words cannot express the heartbreak.”

Brother Martin Luther King III, who was out of town and not able to attend the press conference, shared his grief in a statement, acknowledging the shock and devastation. In a statement, he urged prayers for the entire King family and particularly for Dexter’s wife, Leah Weber, as they navigate this profound loss.

Bernice said a memorial service honoring Dexter’s life was being planned and will be announced at a later date.

Dexter died one week before his 63rd birthday. It was the second death for the King family in less than a year. Last year, Christine King Farris, Dr. Martin Luther King’s oldest sister, died at 95. His mother, Coretta Scott King, passed away in 2006, and his sister Yolanda Denise King in 2007.

The third child in the King family, Dexter was born in Atlanta on January 30, 1961. His parents named him after Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery Alabama, where his father served his first pastorate.

At the age of seven, a young Dexter, had been with his older brother Martin III, when they learned of their father’s assassination. 

Dexter grew up in Atlanta and attended Ebenezer Baptist Church, where his grandfather served as pastor. He graduated from Frederick Douglass High School and followed his father’s footsteps to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dexter and his siblings shared ownership of the King family estate. Dexter leaves behind a legacy of activism and service, having served as the chairman of The King Center and president of the King Estate.