Mary Zoghby, former Alabama state representative, dies at 86

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Former Alabama House of Representatives member Mary Zoghby died Saturday, according to Ascension Funeral Home. She was 86.

According to the funeral home, Zoghby died Saturday afternoon after a brief illness.

Nieces and nephews survive her, News 5 learned. Zoghby worked in the Alabama House as a Democrat from 1978 through 1994 as the District 105 representative, serving Mobile.

She was the driving force — as chief sponsor in 1985 — of legislation that moved Mobile to a mayor-council form of government rather than an at-large three-commissioner system of city government. This move also required Mobile’s budget to be balanced, and the mayor was given line-item veto authority.

A visitation will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Mobile from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday. A burial will follow at Catholic Cemetery, according to Ascension Funeral Home.