The King family will hold a public memorial service for Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of civil rights icons Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church next month. Dexter passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 22 after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer, as he was residing in California, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
Dexter's life will be celebrated at the church’s Horizon Sanctuary on the evening of February 10, the service dubbed "Candlelight Musical Experience: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dexter Scott," will begin at 6:30 p.m., this event promises to be both a musical homage and a candlelit journey through the profound impact Dexter made both in his personal life and as a steward of his father's legacy; additionally, individuals who cannot be present will have the benefit of a live stream available online. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, which can be facilitated through their website or a quick text message, according to the same source.
Previously, on Tuesday, the King family shared memories and honored Dexter at a news conference, with the King Center announcing his passing the day before. Dexter's wife, Leah Weber King, offered an emotional statement, saying, “He gave it everything and battled this terrible disease until the end. As with all the challenges in his life, he faced this hurdle with bravery and might," as 11Alive disclosed. Bernice King, Dexter's sister, struggled with emotion while praising her brother's innovative spirit and dedication to protecting their father's intellectual property, a foresight that contributed to modern legislation safeguarding the work of creatives.
Dexter King, named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where his father commenced his pastorate, was born on January 30, 1961, and was a mere 7 years old when his father was assassinated. He later took the helm at The King Center and the King Estate, following his mother's footsteps, he left an enduring mark not only through his creative ventures but also through his strategic acumen, regarding which Bernice noted, "None of that destroyed our love and our respect for each other. I always admired his brilliant mind and his ability to innovate...I told him, you have the most strategic mind I know.", highlighted during the press conference covered by 11Alive.
