'GMA' Robin Roberts's mother dies as medical leave begins

Robin Roberts's mother Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts has died just as the journalist's medical leave from Good Morning America begins.

Roberts announced on Thursday's (August 30) GMA that she was beginning her hiatus for medical treatment a day early so she could visit her ill mother in Mississippi.















ABC News has now confirmed in a note on its Facebook page that Robin's mother died from an undisclosed illness last night.

"Robin travelled home to Mississippi just in time to see her. Our thoughts & prayers are with the Roberts family," the ABC News statement read.

The presenter is taking time away from Good Morning America because she has been diagnosed with bone marrow disease myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

She is to undergo a transplant with bone marrow donated by her sister Sally in the coming weeks.

Roberts has hosted Good Morning America for the past seven years. She has expressed optimism that she will return after her treatment.