Robin Roberts on the Academy Awards red carpet (image credit Ethan Miller/Getty)
McLean, VA (written by Ann Oldenburg/USA Today) -- She made it to her side in time.
Robin Roberts started her medical leave early - yesterday instead of today - so that she could fly to Mississippi to be with her mother, Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts, who died Thursday at age 88.
George Stephanopoulos announced the news on today's Good Morning America. "Robin did make it to say goodbye," he said.
WABC-TV said Lucimarian Roberts was the first African-American to head Mississippi's board of education. She also collaborated with her daughter on a book titled, My Story, My Song - Mother-Daughter Reflections on Life and Faith.