Effi Barry, Washington, D.C.'s Former First Lady, Dies After a Lengthy Battle with Leukemia

Effi Barry, the District of Columbia's former First Lady, died Wednesday night September 5, 2007 after a lengthy battle with leukemia.

Effi Barry was 63 years old. Barry was receiving treatment for a rare form of leukemia at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Effi Barry learned she had leukemia in February 2006. She is survived by her mother Polly Harris and her son Christopher. 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 passing.

Barry, who recently worked for the city's health department, was married to Councilman Marion Barry for 14 years. The couple separated in 1990. 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.

As a light for many in the African American community, Effi Barry successfully utilized her battle with leukemia to urge more Blacks to be part of the registry for bone marrow transplants.

In honor of her memory, Mayor Adrain Fenty has requested that District of Columbia flags be flown at half-staff beginning Thursday and ending on the day of Barry's funeral.

Because of her strength and diligent work in the community which she had so proudly served, Effi Barry will be post-humously honored by the National Congress of Black Women's at the Twenty-Third Annual Awards Brunch Sunday, September 30, 2007 10:00 A.M. at the JW Marriott Hotel, Washington, DC.

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National Congress of Black Woman