Sat. Jul 6th, 2024
Christine King Farris

Christine King Farris, the last surviving sibling of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has died at the age of 95.

Farris was born Willie Christine King on Sept. 11, 1927, in Atlanta. She was the eldest child of the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Christine Williams King.

Christine King Farris
Christine King Farris

After King’s assassination in 1968, Farris was frequently behind the scenes supporting her brother’s legacy and advocating for civil rights. In addition to her activism, she was credited with helping Coretta Scott King build The King Center.

Farris graduated from Spelman College in 1948, and returned to the historic college about a decade later, where she worked for more than 50 years.

Farris also wrote two children’s books about her life, “My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up With the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” and “March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World.” She also released a memoir in 2009, “Through It All: Reflections on My Life, My Family and My Faith.”

More about Farris’ life can be found here.