As the nation honors Black History Month, remembering the sacrifices and struggles of the Civil Rights Movement, one story remains lesser known: the tragic murder of Alberta Williams King!
Alberta Williams King was the mother of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On June 30, 1974, a peaceful Sunday service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta turned into a scene of devastation. Alberta King, a dedicated church organist and matriarch of the King family, had just finished playing “The Lord’s Prayer” when gunfire erupted inside the sanctuary.
A 23-year-old man, Marcus Wayne Chenault Jr., suddenly rushed the pulpit, shouting: “I’m taking over here!” and then opened fire.
He struck Alberta King, Deacon Edward Boykin, and a congregant named Jimmie Mitchell. Boykin and King were rushed to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Alberta King was 69 years old at the time of her assassination.
The attack occurred less than 100 yards from the gravesite of her slain son, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated just six years earlier in 1968.
Chenault, an Ohio native, later revealed a chilling motive—he believed Black pastors were a threat to Black people and had initially planned to assassinate Martin Luther King Sr., Alberta’s husband and a prominent minister.
In court, he claimed insanity, but the jury rejected his defense. He was convicted and sentenced to death by electrocution.
However, in a demonstration of their enduring commitment to nonviolence, the King family advocated against capital punishment, leading to Chenault’s sentence being commuted to life in prison. He died in 1995 at the age of 44.
A Family Marked by Tragedy
Alberta King’s murder was another devastating blow to the King family, which had already endured the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the mysterious drowning of A.D. King, MLK Jr.’s younger brother, in 1969.
A.D. King had been deeply involved in the civil rights movement, and his sudden death—despite being an experienced swimmer—left lingering questions.
Alberta King’s Enduring Legacy
Beyond the tragedy, Alberta King’s impact remains profound. She was a devoted educator, church leader, and mother whose unwavering faith inspired her children and community.
Despite enduring immense personal loss, she continued to serve the congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church, helping to shape the spiritual foundation that guided Dr. King’s philosophy of love, justice, and nonviolence.
Her death is a sobering reminder of the dangers civil rights leaders and their families faced, even in spaces meant to be sanctuaries of peace.
As we reflect on Black History Month, remembering Alberta King’s life and legacy is essential—not just as the mother of an icon but as a leader in her own right.
