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Senator Barack Obama’s grandmother has died at 86.

Madelyn Dunham passed away in Hawaii on Sunday following a long battle with cancer, the Democratic presidential candidate and his half-sister have announced.

The Obama Family have issued the following statement: “She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure.”