NEW ORLEANS — It was a celebration of life for Sybil Haydel Morial, a New Orleans matriarch who opened doors so others could walk in.
“There are not many people today who truly lift you up by their actions,” said Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Terri Love. “She was a pearl, the most precious gem.”
Family, friends, and admirers gathered at Xavier University to remember Mrs. Morial.
She was a civil rights trailblazer and wife of the first black New Orleans Mayor, Dutch Morial.
The Rev. Al Sharpton was among a who’s who of local and national leaders who packed the convocation center to say goodbye.
“All of us are better because she decided to join the struggle, to make the country better racially and gender-wise,” Sharpton said.
Former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young was a childhood friend of Sybil Morial.
“There’s something magical and spiritual about the life of Sybil Morial that will never die,” Young said.
Former WWL Louisiana anchor Sally Ann Roberts said Morial was not only the wife of the city’s first black mayor, but she was also an equally great woman.
“I believe that these two will be remembered throughout history and will be an encouragement to future generations that change can happen when we work together,” Roberts said.
Sybil Morial’s beloved grandchildren and children, including former mayor and National Urban League President Marc Morial also gave remembrances.
“Here’s to you grammy, we love you and will never cease to cherish the memories we shared with you,” Kemah Dennis Morial said. “Rest in eternal peace.”
“I will miss you grammy,” Margeaux Morial said. “The warm sunny days with you at your house, the quiet times spent on your den, the graceful attitude you had toward the many children constantly running and rough housing all throughout your house.”
“The House of Sybil was a no-nonsense place,” Marc Morial said. “You were going to school. You were going to church, and you had chores to do.”
Morial was honored with a special funeral procession from the New Orleans Museum of Art to her final resting place, St. Louis Cemetery Number 3 on Esplanade Avenue.
“St. Peter open the gates,” Marc Morial said. “Sound the trumpet. Roll out the red carpet. Our queen is coming your way.”
Sybil Morial was 91 years old.
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