Marion Barry Dead At 78, Reportedly Collapsed While Walking Into His Home
Former mayor Marion Barry died early Sunday at the age of 78.
The Washington Post reports that the D.C. council member and former four-term mayor ended a short stay at Howard University Hospital hours before his death.
The death of Marion Barry was confirmed by his family in an official statement released by a spokeswoman for the well-known politician.
The statement reports that Barry was pronounced dead at 1:46 a.m. in Southeast Washington at the United Medical Center.
According to the Washington Post, family spokeswoman LaToya Foster explained the timeline of events between when Barry left Howard University Hospital and later died at United Medical Center.
Marion’s hospitalization began on Thursday evening. Foster claims that Barry was admitted into the hospital after he started “feeling under the weather.” When he was released on Saturday, Marion Barry sent a text message stating that he felt “fan-tab-u-lous.”
Barry reportedly left Howard University Hospital at 6:30 p.m. After leaving the hospital, Barry’s driver took him to get some food before driving him home.
Former D.C. State Board of Education member Trayon White claims that Marion Barry called him and left a voice mail message at 10:19 p.m. after leaving the hospital.
“Trayon, MB. I’m leaving the hospital and I’m doing a whole lot better than when I went in. So we’ll get together sometime tomorrow. I’m going home now and relax, watch television, et cetera. All right.”
While Barry was walking into his home, he reportedly collapsed. Paramedics were called to the scene by the driver, who then took him to United Medical Center.
Natalie Williams, a spokeswoman for the hospital, did not discuss Barry’s symptoms or the treatment that was offered by the United Medical Center. However, she did confirm that Marion Barry arrived at the hospital a little more than an hour prior to his death at 12:30 a.m.
An interview between Oprah Winfrey and Marion Barry was scheduled to air on Sunday night to discuss his book, in addition to the four decades he spent in civil rights and politics.
Barry was going to be featured on the popular Where Are They Now? series alongside former MTV veejay “Downtown” Julie Brown and Family Ties actress Meredith Baxter.
Foster also confirms that Marion Barry’s annual turkey giveaway will continue as scheduled on Tuesday at the Union Temple Baptist Church located in Anacostia. There will also be a viewing party held for the Oprah Winfrey Where Are They Now? interview.
