Yolanda King, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s eldest child who pursued her father’s dream of racial harmony through drama and motivational speaking, collapsed and died after making a speech. She was 51.
King died late Tuesday in Santa Monica, California, said Steve Klein, a spokesman for the King Center. The family did not know the cause of death, but relatives think it might have been a heart problem, he said.
“She was an actress, author, producer, advocate for peace and nonviolence, who was known and loved for her motivational and inspirational contributions to society,” the King family said in a statement. [READ MORE]
REST IN PEACE YOLANDA KING. U WILL BE MISSED. KNOW THAT UR FAMILY HAS A HUGE LEGACY AND YOU ARE PART OF IT.
GO TO HEAVEN WITH YOUR DAD & MOM…..
I heard this on yahoo news and I’m at a loss of words…she was young…..may she rest in peace!!
rest in peace. You will be missed
Thank God for the King family!
This is sad indeed. Stay strong King family.
I can’t beleive she died she was so young. This is a big lost but at least she’s finally with both of her parents. God has some fine angels up there with him. I really respected her and her family for all they did for African Americans and how moving and strong they were. Rest In Peace and my prayers are with the family.
This happened so sudden like Gerald Levert and Anna Nicole! Cause of death…unknown.
Wow this is terrible. And she was only 51. RIP Ms. King
Our people are dying so young. We gotta take care of ourselves.
Its truly a sad day here in Atlanta. But, we should all actually rejoice because she is finally with both of her parents and she hasn’t seen one of them in 40 years.
God bless Bernice, Martin III and Dexter.
She was my favorite out of all of the King children. I know she will be missed tremendously!!!!!
May she rest in peace. She was scheduled to come here next week to talk about Heart Disease too. I hope that we can get more information out about that b/c we are losing people too early to that.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the King family.
I feel good knowing that she is going home to her wonderful parents. Bless the King Family
what fool said anna nicole her cause of death isnt unknow she died because she was taking to many drugs at the same time and to high a dose!
Moving on may you rest in peace and god bless the king family
Rest In Peace Ms. King and continue to do big things up there in heaven too. You were truly a blessing not only to us but to everybody. And I thank you for that.
Chelly you just said it! I’m not sure yet, and i dont know if there will be an autopsy, but if there was no congenital heart problem, then it was probably weight related. I hate that she left so early! So many minorities do, and sadly a large number due to poor health from bad choices in taking care of the body and/or neglect of the body. I’m not saying for sure this is the case with Ms. King; but i do know alot of minorities are quite comfortable walking around with an extra 30 to 40 pounds on us, taxing the hell out of our hearts. The heart eventually weakens and result in a mix of other health problems, and some die earlier than necessary. I hate to see minorities leave so early. Please let’s take better care of ourselves, workout on a regular basis, and eat well.
Yolanda rest in peace. My prayers go out to the King family.
She was pretty young, but she is with Mama and Daddy now…and my granny and granddad
Enjoy the peace! Definitely n a better place
Sad! Only 51?! R.I.P Ms. King…
(This took me by surprise like Jerry Falwell’s death yesterday…)
R.I.P.
It’s sad to knowthat she’s gone. But at the same time, I know that she up in heaven with her parents and I know that she’s enjoying life after death with Martin and Coretta Scott King. May her soul Rest In Peace.
Oh…Gerald Levert’s cause of death is NOT unknown…accidental overdose, sweetie.
Ms. King was a customer of mine at my first job, a clerk at Raintree Cleaners in Culver City, CA. She was very low key, but a very kind woman and I was pleased to know her during few years I was there.
R.I.P. Yolanda.
I heard about this first thing this morning and words can’t express my sympathies. As much as I love my family, I can’t imagine the pressure one must go through being the child of a King (or a Shabazz for that matter). It’s also my understanding she doesn’t have any kids. I hope in the wake of Yolanda’s passing, the remaining children can now put aside the differences that’s been keeping them apart all these years. This goes to show not only how precious life is, but how the King tradition can’t simply be left up to the family. I mean look at how many people post here in a day. There’s power in numbers and I for one will forever be indebted to the man, the family and the legacy that made it all possible… In Jesus’ name… Amen.
RIP Yolanda King
Very sad. God Bless the King family during this time.
God bless their family!
This is just another reminder that we need to take advantage of the time that we’re allowed to spend with our loved ones. How many of us have told ourselves we were going to call a family member but we were to tired and said we’d do it tomorrow and sometimes we keep putting it off. We need to make sure we let people know how much they mean to us every chance we get because you never know when it’s the last time.
RIP Yolanda King.
My prayers go out to her family.
aww how sad..i remember hearing her when her mother died last year…she was so inspirational…like the torch of gracefulness was passed from Coretta to her..may she Rest In Peace
I’m just blown away by this. The other children said that Yolanda was the most heartbroken when we interviewed them the day before the funeral. I truly do believe she missed her Mama too much. But at least she is with her now & not having to live through this f-ed up world we have created . RIP beautiful Lady Yolanda King, GOD be with you & your family through this time. You left us for too soon, but maybe in your mind not soon enough. Your light shown bright until your light was whisked away by the changing winds.
RIP
Rest in Peace(RIP) Yolanda King! I was shocked when I saw it on the news this morning:) WOW. She was a great woman.
This is very sad and my heart goes out to her.
Lets hope Bernice delivers a better eulogy than that given to her mother. I concur that this tragedt should bring the family together and squash whatever differences they have.
JSCENE WROTE:
“I heard about this first thing this morning and words can’t express my sympathies. As much as I love my family, I can’t imagine the pressure one must go through being the child of a King (or a Shabazz for that matter). It’s also my understanding she doesn’t have any kids. I hope in the wake of Yolanda’s passing, the remaining children can now put aside the differences that’s been keeping them apart all these years. This goes to show not only how precious life is, but how the King tradition can’t simply be left up to the family. I mean look at how many people post here in a day. There’s power in numbers and I for one will forever be indebted to the man, the family and the legacy that made it all possible… In Jesus’ name… Amen.”
- eloquently spoken, AMEN
I hope everyone who posts on something silly like pics of celebs at a basketball game can come and post here.
On another note, I read not too long ago how over in India, they planted a forest in Coretta’s name as a token of peace. That family has influenced more people than we’ll ever know.
1finedyme Cosign. RIP Yolanda King.
Life i short and so uncertain…love hard….go for your heart’s desire….reconcile with those whom you can…..LOVE HARD….forgive easily……smile more…LOVE HARD….travel much…..take a lot of pictures…..LOVE HARD
GOD BLESS THE KING FAMILY!!! Heaven was yet missing another Angel so, GOD in his mighty wisdom chose Yolanda King. My prayers are with the King family!! I really wish the King children would’ve had children of their own. We must keep the legacy going.
God has called another angel home, may she RIP, thanks for settin the way from your father to your mother and now u. keep the legacy alive, our people need to follow the steps that are lad before us, instead many choice to ignore it.
She was so young. I lost a family member at a young age, suddenly and it is very hard to process. Eventually, you get over it, but it’s very hard. I pray that her family is blessed. RIP.
may her spoul r.i.p.
May you Rest In Peace Ms. King…
It’s a very sad day, and when I think of the King Family, the saddest part of it is that none of the King children have children, which means, this unbelievable legacy may go unpassed…
Ok..test # 4
RIP. Really surprised and saddened, my prayers are with the family.
woww..51 is not too much of an age….
May Your Sould Rest In Peace.:(
My condolences. May she rest in peace.
Wow. May her family have peace in knowing that God said in His word “to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ” RIP SIS!
For all who may be trying to figure out how. It could be a number of things but know this STRESS KILLS! One of my friends died two weeks ago of a heart attack. She was at a normal weight, exercised and was only 35! We graduated together. We had our first jobs together. She was a wife and mother of 2. She was the kind of person that allways had an encouraging word for others. And she and her husband were still very much in love after 12 years of marriage. I think she worried about things that she kept to herself. I said all that to say STRESS KILLS! It wears you down. Please people, I know we come here cause we love the ‘LOOP. But we must encourage each other and be there for one another. And if your gut tells you your loved one needs a shoulder to cry on, or whatever be that person. We all get stressed so this can effect us all. I AM IN NO WAY CLAIMING THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MS. KING. I AM JUST SAYING THAT THIS (STRESS) IS CLAIMING THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE. WE ARE DYING PREMATURELY! bE GOOD TO ONE ANOTHER !! LOVE YA!
I agree #11 Babytimah. I’m sorry she died so young. Wasn’t she the one who took care of her mom while she was ill?
That family has had a rough time for the last few years.
My condolences.
\Chelly, Who in da hell and 1 fine dime, You all said it just right! We have to take care of ourselves and each other, Make ammends with loved ones, and how the dream can’t just be left up to KING and Shabazz. WE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! ALL OF US! TO CHANGE THE WORLD. To make it a better place, not just because of or for Black people (we should our #1 priority but not our only priority) But for people in general.
There is POWER in numbers Meaning UNITY! We have to support one another! In every way financially, spiritually and emotionally!
Now I’m seeing on the news that she collapsed after a speech yesterday. I’m sure more details with be coming in the next few days.
Life is so short…my condolences
Really Sad, she was so young and her mother just died. Their family has been through alot lately.
I think it’s very important for us as African-Americans to take care of our health….physically, mentally, and emotionally…I’m trying to take care of myself as best to my ability….I lost my mother to a stroke at the age of 42 Yolanda and my mother would’ve been 52 this year born in the same month and year!!!!! Peace and Blessings
R.I.P I know you’re in heaven with your mom and dad.
I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR OF THE SUDDEN PASSING OF YOLANDA “YOKI” KING.
SHE IS GOING TO BE GREATLY MISSED; MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.
WE WILL MISS YOU YOKI!
#53 DIVINE ONE…SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR MOM.
RIP!
Collapsed after making a speech. That must have caused quite some drama.
REST IN PEACE YOLANDA KING….MY PRAYS ARE WITH HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS
WOW…I just saw her speak at my school a few months back…May she rest peacefully & let those unsaved remember that 2maro is not promised…get right w/ the Lord as if today is your last~