“My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed,” the The Former First Lady posted on X on Friday. “She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today.”

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The Former President Obama also posted on X, “There was and will be only one Marian Robinson,” he added. “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.”

Marian Robinson, who was born Marian Lois Shields on July 30, 1937, is the mother of Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States.

She was married to Fraser Robinson III and is the grandmother of Malia and Sasha Obama. Marian Robinson played an important role in her family’s life, particularly during her daughter Michelle’s time in  the White House.

In her early adulthood, Marian married Fraser Robinson III, a World War II veteran who worked as a pump operator for the Chicago Water Department. The couple settled into a modest home in the South Side of Chicago and had two children, Craig and Michelle. Fraser’s job, while stable, required long hours, which left Marian to manage the household and care for their children. She instilled in them the importance of integrity, education, and perseverance.

The family talked about the way Mrs. Robinson watched her parents deal with the limitations of racial segregation. Her father, Purnell Shields, could not be in a union or work for certain construction outfits due to his skin color.

Marian Robinson lived in the White House during Barack Obama’s presidency in order to help support the First Family, especially with her granddaughters. She was praised for providing a sense of normalcy and stability for Malia and Sasha during their formative years in the public eye. Marian was often seen as a grounding force in the Obama family, maintaining a low profile despite the high visibility of her daughter and son-in-law.

After the White House in early 2017, Michelle’s Mother spent her final years living in Chicago.

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