The City of Ocala announced on Thursday afternoon that former city council member Mary Sue Rich has passed away.
Born in Ocala on August 31, 1940, Rich dedicated her life to public service, focusing her efforts on helping the underserved communities and developing West Ocala.
In 1995, Rich became the first Black woman elected to the Ocala City Council. She continued serving on the council for 24 years until her retirement in 2019…