Robin Roberts' mother dies as 'Good Morning America' anchor begins medical leave

CLEVELAND - Hours after Robin Roberts said goodbye to viewers for awhile, the “Good Morning America” anchor said goodbye to her mother.

Roberts's mother Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts died Thursday in Mississippi, after Robin and sister Sally Ann traveled to the storm-affected Gulf fighting through flooded roads to be by her side.

Lucimarian was the first African American to head Mississippi’s Board of Education. She also loved music and writing, authoring a book “My Story, My Song,” which Robin collaborated on.

"Good Morning America" plans to have a tribute to Lucimarian on Friday morning's show.

Robin’s last day before taking medical leave was originally planned for Friday but the anchor left a day early to be with her family down south.

Robin announced on June 11 that she was diagnosed with MDS, myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare disease of the blood and bone marrow, and will undergo a bone marrow transplant.

There is no timetable for Robin’s return but she vowed to be back as soon as she can on Thursday’s “Good Morning America.”

You can follow along with Robin’s journey at this website set up by ABC and Yahoo: http://gma.yahoo.com/robin/