Mother of NYC activist Rev. Al Sharpton dies

March 22, 2012 7:23 AM

NEW YORK — The 87-year-old mother of the Rev. Al Sharpton has died.

His spokeswoman says Ada Sharpton passed away early Thursday morning in Dothan, Ala., following a long battle with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Rachel Noerdlinger says Sharpton will fly to Alabama to make arrangements for his mother's funeral after attending a rally Thursday evening in Sanford, Fla., for Trayvon Martin.

Martin is a black teenager who was shot to death by a Hispanic neighborhood watch captain in Florida. His parents attended a march for their son in New York City on Wednesday evening.

Noerdlinger says Sharpton learned of his mother's death while boarding the flight to Florida Thursday morning. He heads the National Action Network, a civil rights organization based in New York City.