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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 26, 2014)
Fellowship Marion Barry, D.C.’s ‘Mayor for life,’ Dead at 78 By Avis Thomas-Lester and Ruben Castaneda Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer D. C. Council mem- ber Marion S. Barry, the vener- able former four-time mayor and civil rights activist, died early Sunday at the District’s United Medical Center, just hours after he was discharged from Howard University Hospital. He was 78. His death was announced in a statement from his fam- Barry loved ones. “Marion was not just a colleague, but also was a friend with whom I shared many fond moments about governing the city,” Gray said in the statement. “He loved the District of Colum- bia and so many Washingtonians loved him.” however, Barry fell ill and was taken to UMC, where he died. He had survived prostate cancer, but battled diabetes and other ailments. He had been hospitalized several times this year. Barry spokeswoman LaToya Foster told News Channel 8 that Barry col- lapsed after returning home Saturday. “He had a driver. He had gotten out of the automobile and he was walking towards the door and from what I was told he just kind of col- lapsed and was nonresponsive at that point,” Foster said. Gray will work with Barry’s family and the D.C. Gray will work with Barry’s family and the D.C. Council to plan official ceremonies worthy of a true statesman of the District of Columbia Council member Anita Bonds called Barry ‘a political genius, community outreach expert, champion of the over-looked and the left-out’ ily. Barry was admitted Thursday to Howard Uni- versity Hospital after complaining of feeling ill, his spokeswoman said. He was released Saturday and felt well enough to go out to eat. Later in the evening, She said Cora Masters Barry rushed to Barry’s home and was with him when he was taken by ambulance to UMC in Southeast. The Rev. Willie Wilson, pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church, in a statement. “While his history of accomplishments began decades prior to his entry onto the D.C. political scene representing the [Stu- dent Nonviolent Coordinating Committee] in the 1960s, even today, he remains the city’s favorite politician and truly loved by most, and many across the nation. I’ll remember him for his capacity to turn the joined Cora Masters Barry by Barry’s side. Barry was pronounced dead at 1:46 a.m. Enjoy quick & easy classified ad and announcement ordering at www.theskanner.com Page 10 The Portland and Seattle Skanner November 26, 2014 Mayor Vincent C. Gray expressed sadness after learning of the passing of the Ward 8 council member. In a statement, Gray said he spoke with Cora Masters Barry and told her that his prayers were with her, his son, Christopher, and other Council to plan official cer- emonies worthy of a true statesman of the District of Columbia. Acquaintances said Barry had been looking forward to his annual turkey giveaway on Nov. 25. The event is expected to go on as planned at Union Temple. Council member Anita Bonds called Barry “a polit- ical genius, community outreach expert, champion of the over-looked and the left-out.” “He was a warm compas- sionate human being and proud public servant who was the only D.C. politician with coattails,” Bonds said [other] cheek, forgive and move forward no matter the adversity. He was a remark- able, powerful, proud leader of people that will be hard to forget.” She said Barry’s contribu- tions to the city will not leave with his physical pres- ence. “As his passing is mourned, we can be com- forted in knowing that his legacy and love for the Dis- trict will continue through the renaissance of D.C., which he began, and the millions of lives he touched,” she said.
