"Good Morning America" Cohost Robin Roberts' Mother Dies at 88
Lucimarian Roberts, the 88-year-old mother of "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts, died on Aug. 30 in her native Mississippi.
Robin Roberts, who is taking an extended medical leave to prepare for an upcoming bone Marrow transplant, left "GMA" one day earlier than expected (Aug. 30), so she could travel "home to Mississippi just in time to see her," according to ABC.
The cause of Lucimarian's death is unknown.
Robin traveled to her family's home, which had been in the path of Tropical Storm Isaac, Thursday, with her older sister and bone marrow donor, Sally-Ann Roberts.
"Robin arrived home with her sister Sally-Ann, forging through flooded and blocked roads to be with her beloved mother in time to see her," Tom Cibrowski, executive producer of "GMA," wrote in an email early this morning to ABC staff, according to gma.yahoo.com.
Robin's mother, Lucimarian, became the first African-American to head the Mississippi Board of Education. The mother and daughter duo released a joint book, "My Story, My Song" this past March.
The Roberts family said they plan to hold a small private memorial service.
"Life provides losses and heartbreak for all of us. But the greatest tragedy is to have the experience, and miss the meaning," Robin, 51, said on Thursday's "GMA". "I am determined not to miss that meaning."
Various big name anchors including Katie Couric, Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer and Elizabeth Vargas, will cover for Robin during her medical leave.
Though she said there is "no timetable" for her recovery or her return to the show, she tried to put her viewers and fans at ease by saying, "Just know that I'm going to come back here as soon as I can."
