Christine King Farris, the elder sister of Martin Luther King Jr. and a prominent figure in education and civil rights, passed away on Thursday at the age of 95. The King Center confirmed her passing, celebrating her life as a dedicated servant leader, founding board member, and family matriarch.
Farris passed away peacefully in Atlanta, surrounded by her loved ones. She leaves behind a significant legacy, having played a crucial role in establishing the King Center alongside Coretta Scott King after her brother's assassination.
Farris's dedication to education began early. In 1944, at just 16, she enrolled at Spelman College, a historically Black women's liberal arts college. This followed a family tradition, as her mother, grandmother, and great-aunt had also attended Spelman. She earned a Bachelor's degree in economics from Spelman and later a Master’s degree in Social Foundations of Education from Columbia University in 1950, having been denied admission to the University of Georgia due to racial segregation policies at the time. She later obtained a second Master's degree in special education.
Farris's career focused on education. She taught at the elementary level before joining the faculty at Spelman College, where she served as director of the Learning Resources Center for an impressive 56 years, retiring in 2014.
Farris was a vital part of the Civil Rights Movement, actively participating in nonviolent protests, including the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965 and the March Against Fear in Mississippi the following year. She also contributed to preserving her brother's legacy through her 2003 children’s book, "My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." According to a Spelman College profile, Farris described herself and her two younger brothers, Martin and Alfred, as inseparable.
Christine King Farris was married to Isaac Newton Farris Sr. for 57 years until his passing. She is survived by their two children, Isaac Farris Jr. and Dr. Angela Farris-Watkins.
