Dexter King, the youngest son of the iconic civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has died at the age of 62, following a battle with prostate cancer, according to CNN.

The King Center confirmed the sad news in a statement, expressing that Dexter transitioned peacefully in his sleep at his home in Malibu, alongside his wife, Leah Weber King.

"He transitioned peacefully in his sleep at home with me in Malibu," Weber King said.

"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," she added.

READ MORE: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birth Home Saved from Fire 

Reflections on Dexter King Death

The news of Dexter King's passing comes just a week after the nation commemorated the national holiday in honor of his father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dexter's brother, Martin Luther King III, described the sudden shock of Dexter King death as devastating, acknowledging the difficulty of finding the right words in such a moment, PEOPLE noted.

"It is hard to have the right words at a moment like this," he said.

The family is requesting prayers and strength during this challenging time.

Dr. Bernice A. King, Dexter's sister and CEO of The King Center, expressed her heartbreak, emphasizing the need for strength to navigate this difficult period.

The King Center, in a statement on social media, extended love and deepest condolences to the King family, highlighting Dexter King's lasting legacy as a humanitarian and civil rights activist.

"We send our love and deepest condolences to the King family on the passing of Dexter Scott King," the statement said.

Rev. Al Sharpton, who collaborated with the King family on civil rights initiatives, shared his sorrow over Dexter King death, per the NY Daily News.

"I was heartbroken to hear that Dexter King left us this morning, but I was comforted by the knowledge he is reunited with his parents and sister," he said.

A Legacy of Commitment and Continuity

Dexter Scott King, born on Jan. 30, 1961, was the third child of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

His namesake is derived from the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father began his pastoral service.

At the tender age of 7, Dexter faced the tragedy of his father's assassination in 1968.

Following his father's footsteps, Martin Luther King Jr.'s son, Dexter, attended Morehouse College and later became the chairman of the King Center.

His life's mission was to carry forward his father's legacy, dedicating himself to the legal protection of Dr. King's work.

Dexter King, a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School and Morehouse College, was known for his humility regarding his striking resemblance to his father.

In the 2002 television movie, "The Rosa Parks Story," he portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Despite initially pursuing a career in acting in California, he returned to answer the call of family duty.

Survived by his wife, Leah Weber King, sister, Dr. Bernice King, brother, Martin Luther King III, and niece, Yolanda Renee King, Dexter leaves behind a profound legacy.

He joins his father, mother, and sister Yolanda King, who passed away in 2007, WSB-TV reports.

The King Center expressed its commitment to honoring Dexter King's contributions and the continuation of the civil rights legacy he worked tirelessly to preserve.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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