Sybil Haydel Morial, widow of New Orleans’ first Black mayor and a prominent civil rights activist, died at 91, her family announced last Wednesday.

Morial, whose husband Ernest “Dutch” Morial served as mayor from 1978 to 1986, was remembered as a champion of education and civil rights who confronted racial discrimination with unwavering courage and faith.

In a statement, the Morial family said, “Words cannot express our sorrow at the loss of our beloved matriarch and guiding star. Our grief is tempered by our overwhelming gratitude for her life, her wisdom, and her love.”

Born in New Orleans in the 1930s, Morial’s experiences with segregation shaped her activism. She completed her undergraduate degree at Boston University, where she was a contemporary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

After the Brown v. Board of Education decision, Morial attempted to enroll at Tulane University but was rejected due to her race. This experience fueled her commitment to creating an inclusive environment.

Morial co-founded the Louisiana League of Good Government, a racially inclusive women’s group that advocated for voting rights. In 1963, she filed lawsuits against the Orleans Parish School Board challenging restrictions on teachers’ advocacy for integration.

Survivors include her son Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, and daughters Julie Morial, Cheri Morial Ausberry and Judge Monique Morial, seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.