Civil rights pioneer and former D.C. mayor, Marion Barry has died at the age of 78. According to The Washington Post, the politician had a few health problems like diabetes, kidney failure and prostate cancer. His death hasn't been connected to any of his health problems. The family released a statement Sunday morning calling his death a shock.

"It is with deep regret that the family of former four-time D.C. Mayor, and Ward 8 City Councilman, Marion S. Barry, Jr., announces that he has passed," the statement read.

Barry's spokeswoman LaToya Foster says Barry was in good spirits despite his health woes. "In his own words, he was 'fantabulous' -- his words, not mine." she said. Barry was released from Howard University Hospital Thursday after suffering from a urinary tract Infection. After feeling ill Saturday evening, his family took him to the hospital at 12:30 a.m. where he later died at 1:46 a.m.

The D.C. icon served four terms as mayor with some calling him a Robin Hood to the community as he helped create job programs that helped to better the poor. During his term, the mayor was also plagued with drug problems when he was exposed on camera using crack cocaine in a hotel room with his mistress in 1990. Barry served six months in jail and returned to politics as a Ward 8 council member and regained his mayoral title for the fourth and final time in 1994.

Known as the "mayor for life," Barry recently released his memoir, Mayor For Life: the Incredible Story of Marion Barry, Jr." and did an interview with Oprah Winfrey for her show "Where Are They Now?" His family confirmed that the program will still air tonight at 9 p.m. as scheduled.

Source: The Washington Post | Photo Credit: Splash News