Little Rock-The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, A Division of the Arkansas Department of Education, joins the King family and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in mourning the passing of Christine King Farris, the last surviving sibling of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center announced that Willie Christine King Farris passed away today at the age of 95.

Farris was born on September 11, 1927, in Atlanta. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Spelman College in 1948 and later attended New York's Columbia University, where she earned two master's degrees in education. Farris was a retired professor at Spelman College. She also wrote several books, including “My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.”

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. King’s sister, Willie Christine King Farris, says DuShun Scarbrough, Executive Director. Over the years, the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission has had the opportunity to work with Mrs. Farris at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change along with her niece, Dr. Bernice A. King. It was an honor to be in her presence, she was an elegant, graceful woman, full of dignity. To have the opportunity be that close to so much history was truly remarkable. She will be missed.”