Sybil Haydel Morial, a prominent civil rights activist, has passed away at the age of 91. She was known as the widow of New Orleans’ first Black mayor, Dutch Morial, and the mother of former Mayor Marc Morial. Her family confirmed her death in a statement released by the National Urban League, where Marc Morial currently serves as president and CEO. The exact time and cause of her passing were not disclosed.
During her lifetime, Sybil Morial fearlessly confronted the challenges of living under Jim Crow laws with courage and faith. She not only instilled these values in her own children but also touched the lives of many others through her activism and advocacy work. Sybil met Dutch Morial in 1954 and supported his political career while balancing her own responsibilities as a teacher and a mother of five.
Aside from her role in supporting her husband’s endeavors, Sybil Morial was a leader in her own right. She founded the Louisiana League of Good Government, an organization that played a crucial role in assisting Black individuals to register to vote. Additionally, she held various positions at Xavier University, a historically Black institution in New Orleans. Her contributions also included advocating for the construction of a pavilion representing the African American experience at the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans and collaborating on a documentary about desegregation in the city.
U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, a Democrat from New Orleans, paid tribute to Sybil Morial’s legacy, referring to her as the matriarch of the renowned Morial family. He highlighted her significant contributions to civil rights and the city of New Orleans, which will be remembered with deep respect and appreciation.
