Mother of GMA's Robin Roberts Dies at 88

Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts, mother of GOOD MORNING AMERICA anchorwoman Robin Roberts, passed away yesterday, August 30th. The news of her death explains why her daughter Robin began her medical leave from the ABC morning show one day earlier than expected. 

GMA co-anchor George Stephanopoulos announced the news of her passing on this morning's program, saying, "Robin did make it [home to Mississippi], to say goodbye."

A statement from ABC reads: "Sad news this morning from the ABC family. Robin Roberts mother has passed away just hours after Robin said goodbye to 'Good Morning America' to take her medical leave for a bone-marrow transplant.

Robin traveled home in Mississippi and made her way through flooded and blocked roads to be with her beloved ailing mother just in time. Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts was the first African American to head Mississippi's Board of Education. She was passionate about music and the written word and even authored a book, titled "My Story, My Song", which Robin collaborated on."

Robin Roberts, who is a survivor of breast cancer, revealed in June that she was suffering from MDS myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood and bone-marrow disease. Last month she shared with viewers that she would be taking a medical leave of absense from the show sometime in August to receive a bone marrow transplant from her sister Sally.

The anchorwoman will most probably be gone from the morning program for months and no return date has been announced. Oprah Winfrey, Chris Rock, Rob Lowe, the cast of Modern Family, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, Barbara Walters and Kelly Ripa will be among the celebrities filling in for Roberts during her absense from the show.

Photo courtesy of ABC

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