Sybil Haydel Morial
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Sybil Haydel Morial | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 26, 1932 |
| Died | September 3, 2024 (aged 91) |
| Alma mater | Boston University |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Spouse | Ernest Morial |
| Children | Marc Morial |
Sybil Haydel Morial (November 26, 1932 – September 3, 2024) was an American civil rights activist and educator. She was married to Ernest Morial, the first Black mayor of New Orleans and was the mother of Marc Morial, who served as Mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002.
Morial was born on November 26, 1932, in Gert Town, New Orleans.[1] Her father was a surgeon who studied at Howard University and her mother was a teacher.[2]
Morial attended Xavier University Preparatory School.[3] While in high school, she went to the prom with future Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.[4] She earned her bachelor's degree in education from Boston University in 1952.[2] While at Boston, she was a roommate with Liberian writer Izetta Roberts[5] and met Martin Luther King Jr., who inspired her to become more involved with the civil rights movement.[6] She returned to New Orleans and applied to the masters program at Tulane University, but was told by a dean that “we cannot accept you because Tulane does not admit Negroes.”[3] She returned to Boston University, earning her master's degree in education in 1955.[3]