And former Washington, D.C., Mayor Marion Barry has died at the age of 78. Barry served four terms as D.C. mayor, making a 1994 comeback after being jailed for smoking crack cocaine in an FBI sting. Though known for substance abuse problems and allegations of cronyism, Barry was celebrated as a brave organizer during the civil rights movement and as the nation’s first African-American activist mayor. Washington, D.C., Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser paid tribute on Sunday.

Muriel Bowser: “We will miss Mayor Marion Barry. He has been an inspiration to so many people and a fighter for people,and a champion for the people of Ward 8. Mr. Barry, I can say this, lived up until the minute the way he wanted to live. And he has left a strong legacy for so many young people to follow.”

In a statement, President Obama said: “As a leader with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Marion helped advance the cause of civil rights for all. During his decades in elected office in D.C., he put in place historic programs to lift working people out of poverty.”