Norton made the following statement on the passing of Effi Barry (9/6/07)

"I join Washingtonians today in remembering with great fondness and respect Effi Barry, who, as first lady of the District of Columbia, brought grace, dignity and assistance to D.C. residents.

"It was characteristic of Effi, who was a dedicated educator, to use her battle against leukemia to encourage African Americans to donate urgently needed bone marrow and join the registry for bone marrow transplants, needed for life-threatening diseases like leukemia."