Christine King Farris

Personal Life and Tragedies

In 1960, Christine King married Isaac Newton Farris Sr. Together they had two children: Isaac Newton Farris Jr., who later served as President and CEO of The King Center, and Angela Christine Farris Watkins, an academic with expertise in psychology and civil rights history.

Farris endured tremendous personal loss through the years. Her brother, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated in 1968. The following year, her younger brother, Alfred Daniel Williams King I, died by accidental drowning. In 1974, her mother, Alberta Williams King, was tragically assassinated while playing the organ during a church service. Farris never returned to Memphis, Tennessee—where Dr. King was assassinated—except to retrieve his body. In later years, she also attended the funerals of her niece Yolanda King and her sister-in-law Coretta Scott King.

In a CNN interview, Farris stated she would not participate in the 40th anniversary of her brother's assassination due to the painful memories associated with her brief visit to Memphis at that time.

Authorship and Literary Contributions

Christine King Farris authored several books, many of which honor the legacy and humanity of her brother. Her works include March On!: The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World and My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers Growing Up with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which offer personal insights into the King family’s life and values. Additionally, she penned a memoir titled Through It All, chronicling her own life journey and the emotional cost of bearing witness to her family's triumphs and tragedies.

In her writings and interviews, Farris sought to humanize Dr. King—stripping away the layers of myth to reveal the playful, warm-hearted brother she knew. She often explained that while the world sees him as a civil rights icon, to her, he was a beloved sibling whose personal side should not be forgotten.

Legacy

Christine King Farris dedicated her life to education, civil rights, and preserving her family’s profound legacy. Although her net worth is not publicly recorded, her impact has been immense and deeply woven into the fabric of American history. She is remembered not only as the sister of Martin Luther King Jr., but also as a powerful educator, author, and advocate in her own right.