HOUSTON – Former Houston City Council Member Eleanor Tinsley has died after a long battle with liver cancer.

Tinsley was one of the first women ever elected to an at-large seat in Houston. She served from 1979 to 1995, and pioneered the city’s anti-billboard ordinance, anti-smoking laws, and efforts to improve the lives of minorities.

"She will be greatly missed, but her legacy of  improving our community will live on," said State Representative Ellen Cohen. "From her works on parks to her battle against billboards, we should give thanks that such an amazing women lived and worked among us. She made our lives a little more beautiful."

"Eleanor has made our city a better place to live," said State Rpresentative Sylvester Turner in a statement. "Her legacy will live on in the SPARK program, which has greatly enhanced our communities. Eleanor was always upbeat and never had a bad word to say about anyone.  We will miss her tremendously.”

Just last week, Tinsley appeared at a Planned Parenthood awards ceremony.

Tinsley was born in Dallas in 1926. After graduating from Baylor University, she moved to Houston in 1953.

She died in hospice, according to current city council member Sue Lovell.

Tinsley was 82.