Christine King Farris was a teacher and author, as well as the sister of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968).
- Died: June 29, 2023 (Who else died on June 29?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 95.
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Christine King Farris’s legacy
Farris was the oldest child in the King family, born 16 months before her legendary brother. As King rose to become the leader of the civil rights movement, Farris supported him, marching alongside him at such events as the 1965 March for Voting Rights in Alabama. In the years following his assassination, she worked to preserve his legacy. Farris collaborated with Coretta Scott King (1927–2006) to create the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, where she also served as senior vice president and treasurer. She also spoke often about her brother, including leading the 2007 service in his memory at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
In addition to her work in the civil rights movement and in memory of King, Farris was a longtime educator. She was a professor of Education at Spelman College, her alma mater. After joining the faculty in 1958, Farris eventually became the Director of the Learning Resources Center. By the time she retired in 2014, she had worked at the college for 56 years, longer than any other faculty member.
Farris wrote a children’s book about King, “My Brother Martin.” She also published her memoir, “Through It All: Reflections on My Life, My Family, and My Faith.”
Notable quote
“I wanted people to understand that we were real human beings. So often, people look at my brother as an icon. I want people to understand that we come from a real family.” —from a 2009 interview for the Daily Freeman
Tributes to Christine King Farris
Full obituary: The New York Times
