ATLANTA - Coretta Scott King, who worked to keep her husband's dream alive with a chin-held-high grace and serenity that made her a powerful symbol of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s creed of brotherhood and nonviolence, died Tuesday. She was 78.
The "first lady of the civil rights movement" died in her sleep during the night at an alternative medicine clinic in Mexico, her family said. Arrangements were being made to fly the body to Atlanta.
Julee Rosser, Ball State University assistant director of women's studies, said King's death was a great loss to the world, for King was an activist on many fronts and an international symbol of the civil rights revolution.
"She was an advocate for social change for human rights," Rosser said.
King had been recovering from a serious stroke and heart attack suffered last August. Just two weeks ago, she made her first public appearance in a year on the eve of her late husband's birthday.
News of her death led to tributes to King across Atlanta, including a moment of silence in the Georgia Capitol and piles of flowers placed at the tomb of her slain husband. Flags at the King Center - the institute devoted to the civil rights leader's legacy - were lowered to half-staff.
"She wore her grief with grace. She exerted her leadership with dignity," said the Rev. Joseph Lowery, who helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with King's husband in 1957.
Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, one of Martin Luther King's top aides, said King's fortitude rivaled that of her husband.
"She was strong, if not stronger than he was," Young said.
Ball State senior Ebony Gaston, who has been involved with Ball State's Black Student Association, acknowledged King's overall dedication and ambition - "how dedicated she was to really elevating African Americans and making sure we do become more equal in the nation."
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