![[e-mail]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v2/images/header/email-15x10.gif){kind=small}
Subscribe
![[e-mail]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v1/images/icon_email-story.gif){kind=icon}
Get News Alerts to your Email & Cell Phone
RALEIGH, N.C. — Former Raleigh mayor Isabella Cannon was laid to rest on Sunday.
Cannon, who died Wednesday at the age of 97, was buried next to her husband in the town of Claremont.
Saturday, hundreds of people turned out for a memorial service in Raleigh.
Known as the "little old woman in tennis shoes," Cannon was elected Raleigh's first female mayor in 1977 at the age of 73.
Her family and friends remembered her as someone who simply loved life.
"Isabella was a feisty lady and she fought for what she believed in," said former Raleigh Mayor Tom Fetzer.
Cannon planned every detail of her memorial service, from the bagpipe players to the City of Raleigh flag which was draped over her casket.
In the fall, her alma mater, Elon University, will open the Isabella Cannon International Studies Pavillion.
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/share/2012/02/09/10711513/4f348e7981bb5-51x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/local/2012/02/11/10717396/thumbnail-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/out_and_about/2012/02/04/10712136/pics_agunn53833-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717011/10717011-1328936455-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717059/10717059-1328939591-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.highschoolot.com/asset/content/2012/02/11/10717043/10717043-1328939633-100x75.jpg)
WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.