NEW YORK, NY (WKBW/WABC) - Eyewitness News have some sad news from our extended ABC News family to share with you this Friday.
Robin Roberts' mother, Lucimarian, died Thursday night in Mississippi.
Robin Roberts started her medical leave a day early, co-hosting Good Morning America for the last time for awhile, to travel south to see her mother.
We're told Robin made it home in time to see her before she passed.
Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts was the first African-American to head Mississippi's board of education, and she was passionate about music and writing. She even authoring a book, titled "My Story, My Song," which Robin collaborated on.
Thoughts and prayers are with Robin, her sister Sally Ann and her entire family.
Next week, as planned, Robin will begin final preparations for a bone marrow transplant, which is expected to take place about 10 days after she is hospitalized.
Roberts told GMA viewers in July that she has MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease once known as preleukemia.
Looking further ahead, Roberts noted she is luckier than many workers who become ill. She says her bosses have been generous in giving her the needed time off, and her job is waiting for her when she's well enough to return.
She described herself as "very blessed."
A new section of the GMA website, GMA.Yahoo.com/Robin, will provide updates from Robin, her sister Sally Ann, her team and her doctors. There will also be a place to leave messages for her and to find information on how to become a bone marrow donor through BeTheMatch.org.
Until she returns, she also hopes you'll carry her message of Light, Love, Power and Presence. Those words come from the Prayer for Protection and are emblazoned on colorful wristbands that she and her team wear.
If you'd like to show your support, those bands - with Robin's RRR initials - are available now at ShopBeTheMatch.org, and all proceeds will go to Be The Match.
