by Mary Spiller
June 1, 2024
Marian Robinson died on May 31st.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, has died at the age of 86. According to NBC News, Robinson died on May 31.
“She passed away peacefully this morning and at this point none of us are quite sure how to carry on without her,” the family said in a statement.
After the news was released, Michelle Obama shared a heartfelt message in memory of her mother.
She wrote: “My mother Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for me when I needed something. She was the same reliable support system for our entire family and we are deeply saddened to announce that she has passed away today. We would like to share some thoughts on her remarkable life.”
Some of the reflections recalled how Robinson left her hometown of Chicago to support her daughter after she moved into the White House with former and first black President Barack Obama following his election victory in 2008.
Michelle said: “We needed her. The girls needed her. And in the end, she was a great support to us through all of this.”
She continued, “She relished her role as grandmother. … And although she enforced all of the household rules we set about bedtime, watching TV, or eating candy, she made it clear that she was on the side of her 'grandchildren' who felt their parents were way too damn strict.”
My mother, Marian Robinson, was my rock and always there for me when I needed something. She was the same reliable support system for our entire family and we are deeply saddened to announce that she passed away today. We would like to share some thoughts on her remarkable life: https://t.co/F7T6q625PC
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama), May 31, 2024
The Obama family, which includes Barack and Michelle, as well as Michelle's brother Craig Robinson and his wife Kelly, and Marian Robinson's grandchildren Avery, Leslie, Malia, Sasha, Austin and Aaron, issued a joint statement saying: “There was and will be only one Marian Robinson. In our grief, we are touched by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of our lives living up to her example.”
Barack also expressed his sincere condolences on Robinson's death in a tweet.
“There was and will be only one Marian Robinson. In our grief, we are filled with the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of our lives living up to her example,” the former president said.
Michelle has often spoken about the strong childhood and lessons she received from her parents.
The Princeton University and Harvard Law School graduate said: “We were poor. We lived in a small house, but what they gave us was a sense of importance, a belief that our voices counted from a very young age, a sense of understanding, perseverance and resilience.”
“And what that means to a child – when your parents trust you, it encourages you. It tells you that if my mom thinks I can do it, I must be able to do it.”
SIMILAR CONTENT: Michelle Obama surprises high school students in Washington DC at College Signing Day