Former D.C. First Lady Effi Barry Dies
posted 5:54 pm Thu September 06, 2007 - Annapolis, MD
Effi Barry, the District's former First Lady, died Thursday morning at Anne Arundel County Memorial Hospital after a lengthy battle with leukemia.
She was 63. Barry received treatment for a rare form of leukemia at Johns Hopkins University Hospital earlier this summer.
Barry, who recently worked for the city's health department, was married to former Mayor and Councilman Marion Barry for 14 years.
They separated in 1990, shortly after he was caught on videotape at a downtown hotel smoking crack cocaine with an ex-model and asking her to have sex with him.
Effi Barry stood by her husband throughout his three-month trial.
The Barrys divorced in 1993, but Effi Barry later returned to Washington and supported her former husband in his successful bid for a city council seat in 2004.
Barry learned she had leukemia in February 2006.
She is survived by her mother Polly Harris and her son Christopher Marion Barry.
Barry used her battle with leukemia to urge more blacks to be part of the registry for bone marrow transplants.
Councilman Barry told ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 that Effi was a life friend and that their son, Christopher, was at her side at the time of her death.
In honor her memory, Mayor Adrian Fenty has requested that District of Columbia flags be flown at half-staff beginning Thursday and ending on the day of Barry's funeral.
She was 63. Barry received treatment for a rare form of leukemia at Johns Hopkins University Hospital earlier this summer.
They separated in 1990, shortly after he was caught on videotape at a downtown hotel smoking crack cocaine with an ex-model and asking her to have sex with him.
Effi Barry stood by her husband throughout his three-month trial.
The Barrys divorced in 1993, but Effi Barry later returned to Washington and supported her former husband in his successful bid for a city council seat in 2004.
Barry learned she had leukemia in February 2006.
She is survived by her mother Polly Harris and her son Christopher Marion Barry.
Latest Comment on Former D.C. First Lady Effi Barry Dies
Wowzer
6:48 am on 09/07/07
She was always such a class act in good times and bad. Christopher has much of which to be proud in his mother. RIP
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