Alberta Cooper Gay ( January 1 , 1913 – May 9 , 1987 ) was an American domestic worker , schoolteacher and the mother of American recording artist Marvin Gaye . Born in Rocky Mount , North Carolina , she married Gaye 's father , minister Marvin Gay , Sr. , after relocating to Washington , D.C. , in her early twenties . She was the only other person present at the murder of her son committed by his father
murder of her son committed by his father
Death of Marvin Gaye
Alberta Gay