Dr. Christine King Farris: 4-Day Tribute Set For Late Sister Of MLK

ATLANTA, GA — A four-day tribute planned for Dr. Christine King Farris, the late elder sister of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., starts Tuesday at Spelman College, the Ebenezer Baptist Church said.

The 95-year-old activist, author and educator died June 29 of an unknown cause.

Farris will lie in repose at Spelman's Sisters Chapel, 350 Spelman Lane, with a viewing from 4-5:45 p.m. Spelman will give tributes at 6 p.m., followed by final rituals conducted by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Links.

The observance will continue from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, when Farris will lie in state at the Georgia State Capitol. A memorial service is planned from 12:30-1 p.m. at the Georgia State Capitol Rotunda, 206 Washington St. SW.

Day three will commence from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday with a viewing at Ebenezer Baptist Church-Heritage Sanctuary, 407 Auburn Ave. At 6 p.m., the Make A Joyful Noise Musical Tribute will close out the day's events.

Sunday will conclude the tributes with a celebration of life. Another viewing will be from 3-4:30 p.m. at Ebenezer's Horizon Sanctuary, 101 Jackson St. NE. The celebration of life will start at 5 p.m.

Farris was born on Sept. 11, 1927, in Atlanta and was the oldest of three children born to Martin Luther King, Sr., and Alberta Williams King, according to a biography from Stanford University's The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. Her decision to join the church became the "stimulus" for her younger brother's religious life, according to the institute.

Farris graduated from Spelman in 1948 with a bachelor's of arts degree in economics. She earned a master's degree in 1950 from Columbia University Teacher's College and a master's in special education in 1958.

Farris was married to Isaac Newton Farris and had two children, Isaac Newton Farris, Jr. and Angela Christine Farris.