Marian Shields Robinson, the mother of former First Lady Michelle Obama, has passed away at the age of 86.
Robinson, who moved to the White House with the first family when her son-in-law Barack Obama was elected president, was a beloved figure known for her role as an informal first grandmother to the Obama children.
Michelle Obama announced her mother’s passing in an online tribute, highlighting the time Robinson spent living in the White House and her invaluable support to the family. Following her death, former President Barack Obama issued a heartfelt statement, honoring the “extraordinary gift of her life.”
Born in 1937 on Chicago’s South Side, Marian Shields Robinson grew up in a small house with her seven siblings. In 1960, she married Fraser Robinson III, a pump operator for Chicago’s water department. The couple had two children, Craig in 1962 and Michelle two years later. Robinson worked as a secretary and for a bank before becoming a stay-at-home mother, dedicating her life to raising her children and supporting her family.
Marian Robinson’s legacy will be remembered for her dedication, love, and the remarkable role she played in the lives of her family and the nation.
