District's Former First Lady Effi Barry Dies

[madinmaryland]

Source: WNBC Channel 4

The District's former first lady passed away at about 4:30 a.m. Thursday at Anne Arundel Medical Center, where she was being treated for leukemia. She was 63.

Effi Barry was married to Marion Barry for 14 years and played high-profile roles promoting the District during his first terms in office. Effi Barry married Marion Barry just before his first mayoral victory in 1978.

The couple had one son, Christopher Barry, who was at his mother's bedside Thursday morning.

"Today is a day filled with tremendous sadness for me and my family as we mourn the passing of former first lady Effi Barry," Marion Barry said in a statement released Thursday. "Effi was my cherished friend, a wonderful mother to my only son, Christopher, and a beautiful human being. Effi was born to serve and help others, but long after her service to this city was done, as first lady, she continued to give even more of herself in an effort to help those who could not help themselves. Chief among her many accomplishments, was her successful effort to secure city funding for HIV and AIDS awareness programs for the poor. She was a genuinely caring person with a huge heart. I feel fortunate to have had her as a part of my life for so many years. It is as if a part of me has left this world today as well."

Read more: http://www.nbc4.com/news/14057715/detail.html?dl=mainclick