Christine King Farris, the eldest sibling of Martin Luther King Jr., died on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at the age of 95. She was the last surviving sibling of the civil rights leader.
Farris was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1927. She was a teacher and administrator at Spelman College for nearly 60 years. She also served as the president of the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP).
Farris was a strong supporter of her brother’s work in the civil rights movement. She marched with him in Selma and Birmingham, and she spoke out against segregation and discrimination. After her brother’s assassination in 1968, Farris continued to work for social justice. She was a founding member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and she served as its president from 1984 to 1994.
Farris was a lifelong educator and activist. She dedicated her life to promoting peace and equality, and she will be remembered as a champion for social justice.