Sr. Jane Marie Klein remembers Dr. King

By Dr. Anne T. Sulton, Esq.

JA Senior International Correspondent

On March 9, 2026, during an exclusive interview, Sister Jane Marie Klein shared with me her memories of events unfolding on April 4, 1968. This is the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

Our hour-long conversation via Zoom started with a discussion about her career since joining the Franciscans. Now age 87, presumably retired but still super busy, Sister Jane is cool, calm and collected. With a wonderful soft demeanor, sparkling eyes, sweet smile, and a gentle kindness in her voice she described in detail how her college education helped prepare her for the jobs she held. 

Essentially, regardless of her formal job title, Sister Jane’s work involved leading the administration of a hospital system. She laughed, but did not deny, when I exclaimed “You’re actually a corporate executive!”

We then discussed April 4, 1968. She and other nuns were assigned to minister at St. Joseph Catholic Hospital – the only Catholic hospital in Memphis. Recounting that day from start to finish Sister Jane said: “It was another beautiful spring day.” 

She described being at the far end of the emergency room and her pager repeatedly beeping. Responding to the page, she reports seeing law enforcement officers everywhere, the hospital was locked down, and there was chaos in the emergency room. Sister Jane then discovered Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mortally wounded in the emergency room.

Sister Jane was among the nuns standing at Dr. King’s deathbed offering prayers. To this day, she still wonders why Dr. King specifically directed he be taken to a Catholic hospital should something happen to him. She still does not know why she was among those having the “unbelievable privilege” of praying for Dr. King at that moment. 

We completed this part of the interview with her saying: “What a wonderful man. We need a lot more Martin Luther Kings today.”

Note: A special thank you to Allen Semien (Louisiana) for helping me find and connecting me with Sister Jane Marie Klein (Indiana).