Marian Robinson, the mother of former United States First Lady Michelle Obama, passed away on Friday at the age of 86.

In a post on X, Michelle Obama described her mother as the steady backstop for their entire family. The family’s statement noted that her wisdom, though seemingly innate, was hard-earned, shaped by her deep understanding that the world’s roughest edges could always be softened with a little grace.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Marian Lois Shields studied teaching before working as a secretary. She married Fraiser Robinson in 1960, and the couple had two children: a son, Craig, in 1962, and a daughter, Michelle, in 1964.

In a 2022 interview on “Good Morning America” with Robin Roberts, Michelle Obama and her mother discussed their strong bond growing up. The family noted that Robinson was very supportive when her daughter “married a guy crazy enough to go into politics.”

“At every step, as our families went down paths none of us could have predicted, she remained our refuge from the storm, keeping our feet on solid ground.

On Election Night in 2008, when the news broke that Barack would soon shoulder the weight of the world, she was there, holding his hand,” the family said.