Public visitation for former SA mayor Lila Cockrell to take place Tuesday

Cockrell died last Thursday at age of 97

SAN ANTONIO – A public visitation will be held Tuesday for former San Antonio mayor Lila Cockrell, who died last Thursday at the age of 97.

The visitation will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North.

Cockrell was the first woman to serve as San Antonio's mayor. She was sworn into office in 1975 after serving on San Antonio's City Council for a decade. She then served as mayor until 1981 and again as mayor from 1989 to 1991.

A private memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at Laurel Heights United Methodist Church. A public tribute will follow at the Lila Cockrell Theatre, beginning at 2 p.m.

Former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros said Thursday he will deliver the eulogy at the memorial service.

It'll be a very difficult eulogy for me," Cisneros said. "I've had the honor of delivering many eulogies as citizens of our city passed, and family members. But next to my parents, my mom and dad, this woman touched me deeply more than anybody else I can think of. And my own feelings towards San Antonio or as a member of my family and Lila Cockrell is inseparable from that."

FIRST REPORT: Lila Cockrell, first woman to serve as San Antonio mayor, dies at 97

WATCH: Current, former mayor remember Lila Cockrell

Cockrell helped launched Hemisfair '68, when the World's Fair came to San Antonio and was inducted into the Texas Woman's Hall of Fame in 1984. She served as the president of the San Antonio Parks Foundation from 1998 until she retired in 2013. The Lila Cockrell Theatre downtown along the San Antonio River is named in her honor.

The press release said those wishing to share in the condolences can also sign an online guestbook by clicking here.

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About the Author:

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.