Marian Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama, passes away at 86

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Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, has passed away.

Robinson, the mother of the former first lady, died on Friday, May 31, her family confirmed to NBC News. She was 86 years old.

Following the news, Michelle shared a heartfelt tribute on X, formerly Twitter, honoring her mother.

“My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed,” she wrote. “She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today.”

“She passed peacefully this morning, and right now, none of us are quite sure how exactly we’ll move on without her,” NBC’s statement read.

A lifelong resident of Chicago, Robinson supported her daughter during her tenure in the White House with former President Barack Obama after his 2008 election victory.

“We needed her. The girls needed her. And she ended up being our rock through it all,” the family said.

“She relished her role as a grandmother… Although she enforced whatever household rules we’d set, she made clear that she sided with her ‘grandbabies’ in thinking their parents were too darn strict.”

The statement, shared by Michelle and Barack, Michelle’s brother Craig Robinson and his wife, Kelly, and Marian Robinson’s grandchildren, Avery, Leslie, Malia, Sasha, Austin, and Aaron, concluded with a profound acknowledgment of her singular presence.

“In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example,” it said.

Barack Obama also expressed his condolences in a separate statement, emphasizing the unique impact of Marian Robinson’s life and the family’s commitment to honoring her legacy.

Michelle’s father, Fraser Robinson, passed away in 1991. Michelle has frequently spoken about her upbringing and the invaluable lessons imparted by both parents.

Reflecting on her childhood in a 2022 interview with Chicago’s ABC 7, Michelle emphasized the importance of her parents instilling a sense of worth and resilience in her, despite their modest circumstances.

“We were poor. We lived in a small house, but what they gave us was a feeling of importance, a belief that our voices mattered at a very young age, a sense of understanding, of pushing through, resilience,” she recalled.

Michelle also highlighted her parents’ early teachings of responsibility, noting how their trust in her capabilities as a child fostered her confidence and determination.

“And what that does for a kid – when your parent trusts you, it encourages you. It tells you that if my mom thinks I can do this, then I must be capable,” Michelle reflected.

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