Michelle Obama’s mother Marian Robinson dies at the age of 86

Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, has died.

Robinson, the former first lady’s mother, died on Friday, May 31, her family told NBC News in a statement. She was 86.

Following the news, Michelle posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) remembering her mother.

“My mother, Marian Robinson, was my rock. She was always there for me when I needed something,” she wrote. “She was the same reliable support system for our entire family and we are deeply saddened to announce that she passed away today.”

“She passed away peacefully this morning and at this time none of us are quite sure how to move forward without her,” NBC’s statement said.

It went on to say that the lifelong Chicago resident left her hometown with “a healthy nudge” when her daughter moved into the White House with former President Barack Obama following the 2008 election victory.

“We needed her. The girls needed her. And in the end, she was our rock the whole time,” the family said.

“She relished her role as grandmother. … And although she enforced all the household rules we set about bedtime, watching TV, or eating candy, she made it clear that she was on the side of her ‘grandchildren’ who felt their parents were way too damn strict.”

The statement, shared by Michelle and Barack, Michelle’s brother Craig Robinson and his wife Kelly, and Marian Robinson’s grandchildren Avery, Leslie, Malia, Sasha, Austin and Aaron, added: “There was and will only be one Marian Robinson.”

“In our grief, we are touched by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of our lives living up to her example.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Barack, 62, also expressed his condolences on her death in a separate statement.

“There was and will be only one Marian Robinson. In our grief, we are filled with the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of our lives living up to her example,” the former president wrote in a tweet.