Coretta Scott King’s lasting contributions to freedom and equality have made America “a better and more compassionate nation,” President Bush said after news of her death Jan. 31.
King, 78, died at a health center in Mexico, 16 miles south of San Diego, that treats diseases considered beyond the help of traditional medicine, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. King suffered a major stroke and heart attack last August that had impaired her speech and right side. Several months earlier, she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Ken Fentress, dean of intercultural programs at Southern Baptist Seminary, and professor of Old Testament, said King’s death is “a profound loss for America and all who believe in justice.”
“Mrs. King’s life was a positive example of dedication and commitment to family, faith and country,” Fentress said. “She was an example of grace, dignity and strength in the face of one of the most excruciating national tragedies in history. Her contributions to the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans must never be forgotten.”
Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said, “The nation as a whole – red, yellow, black and white – owes an incalculable debt of gratitude to Mrs. Coretta Scott King and her husband, Dr. King. Their collective courage, bravery and Christian dignity helped to guide America through one of the more difficult and heartbreaking periods of our history. Together, Dr. and Mrs. King did more for racial reconciliation in this nation than any couple in our history.” – BP