Alberta Williams King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alberta Williams King
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King c. 1960s
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| Born |
Alberta Christine Williams
September 13, 1904 |
| Died | June 30, 1974 (aged 69) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Resting place | South-View Cemetery |
| Education | Spelman Seminary Hampton University Morris Brown College (BA) |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Christine Martin Alfred |
Alberta Christine Williams King (born September 13, 1904 – died June 30, 1974) was the mother of famous civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.. She was married to Martin Luther King Sr.. Alberta King was very important in the life of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Alberta Christine Williams was born on September 13, 1904. Her father was Reverend Adam Daniel Williams. He was the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Her mother was Jennie Celeste (Parks) Williams.
Alberta finished high school at the Spelman Seminary. In 1924, she earned a teaching certificate. This was from the Hampton Normal and Industrial Institute (now Hampton University).
Alberta met Martin L. King (who was then known as Michael King). His sister, Woodie, was staying with Alberta's parents. This was just before Alberta left for Hampton. After she graduated, Alberta announced her engagement to King at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. She taught school for a short time. Then, she and King got married on Thanksgiving Day in 1926. She had to stop teaching because the local school board did not allow married women to teach.
After their wedding, the Kings moved into the Williams family home. All three of their children were born there. The King family lived in that house until 1941. That year, Martin Sr.'s mother passed away. Martin Jr. was 12 years old then. In 1980, the house became a National Historic Site.
The Kings' first child, Willie Christine King, was born on September 11, 1927. Their second child, Michael Luther King Jr., was born on January 15, 1929. He later became known as Martin Luther King Jr.. Their third child, Alfred Daniel Williams King I, was born on July 30, 1930. He was named after his grandfather. Around this time, Michael King Sr. changed his name to Martin Luther King Sr..
Alberta King worked hard to teach her children to respect themselves. Martin Luther King Jr. was very close to his mother. He once wrote that she was "behind the scenes setting forth those motherly cares." He said that without her, something important would be missing in life.
Alberta King continued her own education. She studied at Morris Brown College. She earned a college degree (a Bachelor of Arts) in 1938.
Her Important Role at Church
Alberta King started the Ebenezer choir. She was the church organist from 1932 to 1972. Her work with music at Ebenezer helped her son, Martin Luther King Jr., appreciate music deeply. She was the choir director for almost 25 years. She left for a short time in the early 1960s to help her son with his work. She returned to her role in 1963 and continued until she "retired" in 1972.
Besides the choir, Alberta also organized and led the Ebenezer Women's Committee. She was president from 1950 to 1962. By the end of this time, Martin Luther King Sr. and Jr. were both pastors at the church.
Outside of Ebenezer, Alberta King was also the organist for the Women’s Auxiliary of the National Baptist Convention from 1950 to 1962. She was also active in other groups. These included the YWCA, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.
Sad Times for the King Family
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was killed. He was standing on a balcony in Memphis. He was there to support sanitation workers. Mrs. King was a strong person after her son's death. But she faced another sad event the next year. Her younger son, Alfred Daniel Williams King, passed away. He had become an assistant pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church.
A Tragic End
Alberta King was killed on June 30, 1974. She was 69 years old. A 23-year-old man named Marcus Wayne Chenault shot her. She was rushed to the hospital but died shortly after.
Alberta King was buried at the South-View Cemetery in Atlanta. Martin Luther King Sr. passed away on November 11, 1984. He was buried next to her.
The Assassin's Punishment
Marcus Wayne Chenault was found guilty of murder. He was first sentenced to death. But the King family did not believe in the death penalty. Because of this, his sentence was changed to life in prison. He later died in 1995 from health problems.
See also
In Spanish: Alberta Williams King para niños
