Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, has passed away at the age of 86, as confirmed by a family statement shared with NBC News.
The family statement expressed that their beloved passed away peacefully this morning. They are currently uncertain about how they will be able to move forward without her.
The statement comes from Michelle and Barack Obama, as well as Craig Robinson and his wife, Kelly, along with Marian Robinson’s grandchildren – Avery, Leslie, Malia, Sasha, Austin, and Aaron.
Robinson gained recognition as America’s inaugural grandmother when her son-in-law, Barack Obama, secured the presidency in 2008. Throughout his two terms in office, she maintained a discreet presence in the White House. While she did participate in holiday gatherings, occasional international journeys, and concerts in the East Room, her primary focus was spending time with her granddaughters, Sasha and Malia.
Robinson made the decision to relocate to Washington, D.C., in 2009, despite having been a lifelong resident of Chicago. Her primary motivation was to provide assistance and support to her granddaughters, who were aged seven and ten, by residing in the White House residence.
In a CBS interview, she expressed her concerns for her daughter and son-in-law, stating, “I felt like this was going to be a very hard life for both of them.” Her primary worries were their safety and the well-being of her grandkids. These anxieties ultimately led her to make the decision to move to D.C.
According to a statement released by Robinson’s family members on Friday, she willingly decided to leave Chicago with “a gentle push” towards a healthier environment.
“We relied on her. The girls relied on her. And she turned out to be our pillar of strength throughout it all,” they expressed.
My grandmother truly embraced her role as a grandmother. She took great delight in spending time with her grandchildren and showering them with love and affection. Despite supporting and enforcing the household rules we had established for things like bedtime, TV time, and candy consumption, she always made it known that she was on the side of her “grandbabies” when it came to thinking that their parents were a tad too strict.
Robinson, born in Chicago in 1937, was raised in the city’s South Side. She dedicated herself to raising her daughter and son, Craig Robinson. The loss of her husband, Fraser Robinson, to multiple sclerosis in 1991, added to the challenges she faced.
In a CBS interview, the former president affectionately referred to his mother-in-law as “the least pretentious person I know.” Robinson shared that residing in the White House was a significant change for her, as she had always been accustomed to doing her own laundry. She even managed to convince the White House residence staff to allow her to continue this routine.
According to the family’s statement on Friday, instead of socializing with Oscar winners or Nobel laureates, she enjoyed spending her time upstairs, in the room outside her bedroom with large windows overlooking the Washington Monument. The family also mentioned that the only guest she specifically requested to meet was the Pope.
During their time in the White House, the former president acknowledged Robinson’s significant role in keeping his daughters grounded.
During an interview on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” he described her as someone who is humble and doesn’t comprehend the excessive attention surrounding her.
Michelle Obama had a deep bond with her mother. It was Robinson who had the honor of narrating the biographical video that introduced her daughter at the Democratic National Convention in 2008. Even after leaving the White House, Robinson expressed her admiration by saying, “When I grow up, I would like to be like Michelle Obama.”
Michelle Obama recently honored her mother on Mother’s Day by revealing that the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago will dedicate an exhibit in her name.
Former first lady Michelle Obama expressed her gratitude for her mother’s influence on her personal growth and self-confidence. She acknowledged the invaluable lessons her mother instilled in her, such as critical thinking, finding her own voice, and recognizing her own value. Mrs. Obama emphasized that her mother’s guidance played a significant role in shaping her into the person she is today.
In a heartfelt statement released on Friday, the family expressed their deep admiration for Marian Robinson, emphasizing that there is and will only ever be one Marian Robinson. Despite their sadness, they find solace in the extraordinary gift of her life and are determined to honor her legacy by striving to emulate her remarkable example.
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