Mother of US morning TV host Robin Roberts dies
ABC newswoman Robin Roberts with fellow cast member Josh Elliott on her final appearance on ABC's 'Good Morning America' yesterday before taking medical leave. — Reuters pic NEW YORK, Aug 31 — US morning television host Robin Roberts was mourning the death of her mother today, just a day after she left the “Good Morning America” show to prepare for a bone marrow transplant to treat a rare blood disorder.
Roberts left the ABC news programme yesterday, a day earlier than scheduled, to see her ailing 88-year-old mother, Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts, in Mississippi.
Jeffrey W. Schneider, senior vice-president of ABC News, said Lucimarian died last night.
“Robin did make it to say goodbye,” her co-host George Stephanopoulos told viewers on today’s show.
Lucimarian Roberts was the first African-American to head Mississippi’s board of education, according to ABC.
Roberts, who is expected to be off the air for several months, revealed in June that she had been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome — a disorder triggered by her treatment for breast cancer five years ago.
Her older sister, Sally-Ann, will be the bone marrow donor. — Reuters
