Michelle Obama’s tragic personal news

Marian Robinson, mother of former US First Lady Michelle Obama, has died at 86, her family have announced.

In a statement, the Obamas said Robinson died “peacefully” on Friday morning.

Ms Robinson was a familiar presence at the White House during Barack Obama’s administration from 2009 to 2017.

She was known to spend much of that time caring for her granddaughters, Malia and Sasha.

In a statement posted on X, Ms Obama said her mother was her ‘rock’ and was always there for whatever she needed.

“My mom, Marian Robinson… was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away,” the statement read.

In another tweet, Mr Obama said her mum was unique, and while the family are saddened by her loss, they were inspired by her remarkable life and will “strive to honor her example”.

“There was and will be only one Marian Robinson,” he said.

“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”.

The statement also read: “Marian Lois Shields Robinson, our mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother, had a knack for succinctly conveying life’s truths, making those around her pause and reflect”.

Born in 1937, Ms Robinson was one of seven children in Chicago, where she spent most of her life before moving to Washington DC after Mr Obama’s electoral victory.

In her early years, Ms Robinson pursued a teaching career before working as a secretary and finally being a stay-at-home-mum.

Together with her husband, Frasier Robinson, she raised Michelle and their other child, Craig, on Chicago’s South Side.

The Robinsons worked tirelessly to send their children to top schools, with Mr Robinson continuing to work full-time despite having multiple sclerosis and the couple taking out secret loans to cover the fees.

“We just wanted our children to understand that a good education was their ticket to a better life, a chance to have more and be more,” Ms Robinson once said.

Both siblings, Craig and Michelle graduated from Ivy League universities.

“At every step, as our families went down paths none of us could have predicted, she remained our refuge from the storm,” the Obama statement said.

Ms Robinson moved to the White House after a “healthy nudge” from Barack and Michelle Obama, who, along with their daughters, who said they “needed her”.

It was also widely known that the doting grandmother insisted on doing her own laundry there.

Ms Robinson previously said in an interview with interview with CBS, she felt compelled to move to Washington because she felt “like this was going to be a very hard life” for her daughter and son-in-law.

“I was worried about their safety,” she said.

“I was worried about my grandkids. That’s what got me to move to DC”.

The statement closed by saying Ms Robinson will be remembered as the loving, grounded, and tough-minded matriarch of the White House.

“I simply wouldn’t be who I am today without my mom.”