Immediate Family Overview
Martin Luther King Jr. was the second child of Alberta Williams King and Martin Luther King Sr. He married Coretta Scott King in 1953 and had four children: Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, and Bernice. He was born on 15 January 1929 and died on 4 April 1968. This evergreen profile focuses on relationships, verified lineage, and roles within the family rather than incident-driven narratives.
Coretta Scott King (Marriage and Partnership)
Meeting, Marriage, and Shared Mission
Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King Jr. met in Boston while he was studying at Boston University. They married on 18 June 1953 in Heiberger, Alabama. Coretta was an active civil rights advocate in her own right, participating in the Montgomery bus boycott and later co-founding the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta in 1968. She outlived him by 48 years, passing away on 30 January 2006.
Children and Parenting
Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, and Bernice
The Kings had four children. Yolanda King was born in 1955 and died in 2007. Martin Luther King III was born in 1957 and has remained engaged in advocacy. Dexter Scott King was born in 1961 and died in 2024. Bernice King was born in 1960 and serves as a pastor and CEO of the King Center. Each child has pursued public roles shaped by their parents’ legacy, while maintaining distinct professional paths.
| Name | Birth Year | Status (as of general knowledge cutoff) |
|---|---|---|
| Yolanda King | 1955 | Deceased (2007) |
| Martin Luther King III | 1957 | Alive |
| Dexter Scott King | 1961 | Deceased (2024) |
| Bernice King | 1960 | Alive |
Parents and Upbringing
Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King
Martin Luther King Sr. was a Baptist minister and early influence on his son’s moral and theological thinking. Alberta Williams King, a former schoolteacher, emphasized education and discipline. Both parents shaped his formative years in Atlanta. Alberta was tragically killed in 1974, and Martin Sr. died in 1984. Extended family, including siblings and grandparents, also contributed to the children’s upbringing within a tight-knit, faith-centered household.
Siblings and Extended Kin
Christine King Farris and Alfred Daniel Williams King
Martin Luther King Jr. had one older sister, Christine King Farris, who was an educator and lecturer, and one younger brother, Alfred Daniel Williams King, who was also a Baptist minister. Christine outlived her siblings and carried forward family stories through interviews and public appearances. ADFW King died in 1969 in a tragic accident. The King siblings maintained close bonds throughout their lives, often participating together in commemorative events.
Family Legacy and Memorialization
The King Center and Cultural Memory
The King Center, founded by Coretta Scott King, continues to archive materials, host educational programs, and observe annual commemorations. Family members have served in leadership roles there, ensuring that institutional memory remains connected to lived experience. Annual celebrations and reflections at sites linked to Martin Luther King Jr. reinforce the enduring relevance of family narratives within the broader civil rights canon.
Key Family Facts at a Glance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Parents | Martin Luther King Sr. and Alberta Williams King | Biographical records |
| Siblings | Christine King Farris; Alfred Daniel Williams King | Family statements |
| Spouse | Coretta Scott King (married 18 June 1953) | Marriage certificate |
| Children | Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, Bernice | Birth records |
| Birth Date | 15 January 1929 | Official documents |
| Date of Death | 4 April 1968 | Official records |
Conclusion
Understanding Martin Luther King Jr. through the lens of family offers clarity on personal relationships that shaped his life and legacy. This verified overview presents names, roles, and timelines with sourced context. The King family’s ongoing work through institutions and public scholarship continues to illuminate the meaning of nonviolent resistance and collective progress.