Veronica Norman, an employee at St. Elizabeths Hospital for four decades and the grandmother of Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, died due to complications related to COVID-19, White wrote on social media Sunday morning.

“Yesterday, I received a call that our grandmother was home and non responsive,” White writes. “When the Chief Medical Examiner arrived, they confirmed that she passed on to be with the Lord.”

White did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in his posts on Instagram and Facebook, he writes that the medical examiner could not immediately transport Norman’s body because she was infected with the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. 

“This broke us down even more trying to scramble to get her body removed from the house,” White writes. “Veronica Norman you are a strong soul. You not only embodied grandma name but her spirit.”

White writes that he and others urged Norman to retire from her job at St. Elizabeths psychiatric hospital. “But her love and commitment for her patient kept pulling her out of bed every day to ‘be present,’” White writes. “She loved her family and community so much.”

In his post, White included photos of a pin and a certificate commemorating Norman’s decades of service to the District.

“This is the [worst] time to lose a family member, and we would like to send our love and prayers to those suffering from the virus and other health conditions,” White writes. “We are a resilient people and will make it through these though times as well. We always do. In the words of grandma, ‘Be Strong Tray.’ Forever missed.”

As of Saturday, April 18, 56 St. Elizabeths employees and 36 patients tested positive for the coronavirus, according to District data. Four of those patients have died.

We’re providing daily updates on COVID-19’s impact in D.C., and subscribing to District Line Daily is a great way to support us.