The Atlanta University Center Consortium mourns the passing of Dr. Barbara King, who passed on October 11. Dr. George T. French, chair of the AUCC Council of Presidents, released the following statement:
“As chair of the Atlanta University Consortium Council of Presidents, I join my colleagues in mourning the passing of Dr. Barbara King, while more importantly, celebrating her life and legacy,” said Dr. George T. French, chair of the AUCC Council of Presidents. “We celebrate Dr. King as a distinguished member of our AUC community as former student, professor, administrator, and alumna of Clark Atlanta University. We honor her dedication and legacy of service through leadership that has positively impacted Atlanta, the nation, and the world.”
About Dr. Barbara King
After graduation with a master’s degree in social work from Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), she became a professor of social work at Clark Atlanta University and then the dean of students at Spelman College. She also served as dean of community relations at Malcolm X College in Chicago and founded what is now the Hillside International Truth Center in Atlanta. Later, she became the first non-psychiatrist director of the Emory Mental Health Center. Because of her leadership and enduring legacy, her portrait hangs in the International Hall of Honor at Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College.
Affectionately known as “Dr. Barbara,” she has authored ten books and monographs, including Transform Your Life; In Me, As Me: Ten Principles for Finding the Divine Within; and Leave With Love: A Spiritual Guide to Succession Planning. She hosted the A New Thought, A New Life television show, has appeared on shows produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tavis Smiley, and participated in White House conferences and consultation with U.S. Presidents Carter and Clinton.
A leader in the New Thought movement, she was awarded its the three highest honors—The International New Thought Alliance (INTA) Life Achievement Award; the Ernest Holmes Religious Science Award; and Unity’s The Light of God Expressing Award. She was also enstooled as the first female chief at Assin Nsuta, Ghana, West Africa of the Ashante tribe and was consecrated as a bishop by the International College of Bishops. Her shoeprints are part of the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame for her work in Dr. Martin Luther King’s Chicago movement.
The Atlanta University Center Consortium expresses our greatest sympathy for the family and friends of Dr. King, and celebrate her life and contributions to the spiritual well-being of thousands.
