Coretta Scott King Passes Away

[Hostile]

Coretta Scott King dead at 78

Widow of civil rights leader suffered heart attack in August


BREAKING NEWS
NBC, MSNBC and news services
Updated: 8:11 a.m. ET Jan. 31, 2006


ATLANTA - Coretta Scott King, who turned a life shattered by her husband's assassination into one devoted to enshrining his legacy of human rights and equality, has died, former mayor Andrew Young told NBC Tuesday morning. She was 78.

Young, who was a former civil rights activist and was close to the King family, broke the news during a phone call he made to the NBC "Today" show.
Asked how he found out about her death, Young said, "I understand she was asleep last night and her daughter tried to wake her up."

King had been recovering at home since suffering a stroke and heart attack in August.


She was last seen in public when she made a surprise appearance at a fundraiser on what would have been her husband's 77th birthday earlier this month.

She smiled from her wheelchair as she was greeted with a standing ovation and thunderous applause from a crowd of 15-hundred at the Salute to Greatness Dinner at the King Center.

Coretta King was a supportive lieutenant to her husband during the most tumultuous days of the American civil rights movement.

The Kings were married in 1953 and had four children, Martin Luther III, Yolanda, Dexter and Bernice. After her husband’s assassination in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968, King kept his dream alive by starting the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, based in Atlanta.
NBC News' Javier Morgado and Mark Jafar, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

 

[Juke99]

...behind every great man..

RIP

 

[Yeagermeister]

RIP Mrs King

 

[Hostile]

...behind every great man..

RIP

Amen.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Grace and class to the end...

 

[Pats Fan]

Well, life without football kind of leaves a hole.

But life goes on. I hope Seattle wins only because I think the Steelers are a mean team. (me rooting for an NFC team - never thought that would happen) Their fans are bums. Trying to think of any fans worse. Perhaps the Raiders, the Colts, the Cheeseheads, I guess you would say the Eagles -- can't speak for them.

But on this night may we remember. Those of us old enough to remember. When times were better. All of the old heros are gone. There are no heros on the horizon. No one for kids to look up to.

Good night Coretta. Your husband was one heck of a guy. No person can put you down. Smile on that fact. Those of us that are small enough to pick on others need to look at themselves. I stand as a white American that is pleased to have our black culture and people. Here's to you Coretta!!!

Night, and God bless. May we all look at ourselves and find some time to say hello, be polite, courteous. Darn we need it.

 

[bbgun]

I stand as a white American that is pleased to have our black culture and people. Here's to you Coretta!!!

Er, okay.

 

[WV Cowboy]

...behind every great man..

RIP

I have not read much about this great lady, but this is so true.

Somebody could say that about my wife someday, if it wasn't for me.

 

[TruBlueCowboy]

I guess what her death makes me realize is that MLK could still be alive today. I wonder what the world would be like if someone like him was still alive. I wonder what he would have to say about today's issues.