Michelle Obama's Mom, Marian Robinson, Dead At 86
Michelle Obama's mother Marian Robinson has died at 86, the family revealed in a statement to NBC News. "She passed peacefully this morning, and right now, none of us are quite sure how exactly we'll move on without her," they said. As of this writing, a cause of death has yet to be announced. Marian is survived by the former first lady, her son Craig Robinson, and six grandchildren. Despite being the mother to Michelle and mother-in-law to former U.S. President Barack Obama, the Chicago native kept a relatively low profile.
However, she did spend some time as a resident of the White House, moving in shortly after her son-in-law landed in office in 2008. "She is here to help them get up and running," Michelle's spokesperson Katie McCormick Lelyveld, told The New York Times in February 2009. Despite living a life outside the public eye, there's no denying that Marian has left a mark on her daughter and family.
The Obamas mourn the loss of Marian
In light of Marian Robinson's tragic passing, Michelle Obama took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a heartbreaking tribute for her mother. "My mom ... was my rock, always there for whatever I needed," she wrote. "She was the same steady backstop for our entire family." Former U.S. President Barack Obama echoed similar sentiments in his own post, lauding his mother-in-law for being one of a kind. "In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary of her life," he added.
In addition to close family members, a handful of public figures shared their own tributes to Marian and her unforgettable presence during the Obama Administration. Loni Love, former host of "The Real," described the late figure as always being classy and kind. "Thank you for your service and support to keep our Forever First Lady & President honorable," she wrote. Chicago ABC anchor Samantha Chatman also honored Marian, reflecting on the sit-down interview they shared in 2022. "I'll never forget the time we spent together," she tweeted.
While Marian steered clear from the spotlight, she did give a rare look into her life living in the White House during an interview with Gayle King in 2018. "It was a huge adjustment," she explained. "As a matter of fact, I talked them into allowing me to do my own laundry." While she was happy to return to Chicago following Barack's second term, she admitted missing the people. "They were like family. We got pretty close there," she added.