Coretta Scott King, Widow of Martin Luther King Jr. Dies at 78

Coretta Scott King, the widow of slain civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who devoted herself to her husband’s legacy for human rights and racial equality has died at age 78.

Coretta Scott King, the widow of slain civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who devoted herself to her husband’s legacy for human rights and racial equality has died at age 78, the King family announced this morning.

“We appreciate the prayers and condolences from people around the country,” the family said in a statement. The family said she died overnight but did not indicate where, according to the Associated Press.

Flags at the King Center in Atlanta were lowered to half-staff on Tuesday morning.

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, who helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference together with the Rev. King, remembered the suffering of Scott King in her husband’s absence.

"She wore her grief with dignity," said Lowery, according to CNN. "She moved quietly but forcefully into the fray. She stood for peace in the midst of turmoil."

Lowery also remembered Scott King not as a civil rights figure "in the truest sense" but "because of what she came to represent," according to the New York Times.

"She’ll be remembered as a strong woman whose grace and dignity held up the image of her husband as a man of peace, of racial justice, of fairness."

The Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a family friend, described her as a "matriarch of the movement, a patriot of all that America stands for," in an interview with CNN affiliate WSB-TV in Atlanta.

Scott King married the Rev. King in 1953 and had been supportive of his civil rights struggle. After he was assassinated on Apr. 4, 1968, she continued to remember his legacy and raised the couple’s four children.

"I'm more determined than ever that my husband's dream will become a reality," King said soon after he was killed.

To keep her husband’s name and the struggle he represented alive, she fought for years to make his birthday a national holiday.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law and the first federal King Holiday was celebrated in 1986.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.