ORLANDO, Fla - The first African-American woman elected to the Orlando City Council has died at the age of 98.
Former Commissioner Mabel Butler's death was announced on Saturday by current Orlando Council member Shan Rose.
Ms. Butler was first elected to the City Council in 1984 and served until 1990.
She was then elected to the Orange County Commission where she was also the first black woman to serve, keeping that seat until 1998.
According to Commissioner Rose, Ms. Butler was affectionately known as "Momma Commissioner", and that she paved the way for future generations of leaders.
Former Commissioner Butler moved to Orlando in 1957 from her home in Jacksonville, and later served on former Mayor Carl Langford's biracial committee, where she helped establish the city's Human Relat