ATLANTA — Naomi Barber King, a civil rights activist who was married to the youthful brother of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., has died at age 92.
She died in Atlanta on Thursday, in line with relations who issued an announcement by the A.D. King Basis.
Naomi King established the group in Could 2008 with a mission of empowering youth and girls and advancing methods for nonviolent social change.
“She was a girl of quiet dignity, overcoming energy, and steadfast assist to her husband, household, and circles of affect inside and past Atlanta,” the assertion mentioned.
Naomi King was born in Dothan, Alabama, in line with the inspiration’s web site. She and her mom, Bessie Barber, moved to Atlanta to “make a greater residing” for themselves. In 1949, King entered Spelman School and spent a 12 months finding out French. She later attended the College of Alabama and studied inside design, in line with the web site.
She was married to the Rev. Alfred Daniel Williams King, a Baptist minister and civil rights chief she met after becoming a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church. The couple married in 1950 and had 5 youngsters. A.D. King died in July 1969.
The couple supported Martin Luther King, Jr., and his management within the Civil Rights Motion and had been at his facet throughout a number of historic occasions, together with the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, one of the vital well-known political rallies in U.S. historical past.
Naomi King printed a e book in 2014 titled, “A.D. and ML King: Two Brothers Who Dared to Dream.”
Identified for her love of butterflies and affectionately known as the “Butterfly Queen,” King set an instance of braveness, resilience and charm within the face of injustice, uncertainty and heartache, which had been themes highlighted in a 2022 documentary about her life, in line with the inspiration.
She is survived by her daughter, Alveda King; her son, Derek King; and several other grandchildren.
