Former Mayor of Derry and Foyle MLA Annie Courtney has been remembered as a first-class public servant and “true lady”. She first entered front-line politics in 1985 after being elected among a large SDLP contingent to Derry City Council. She also contested elections to Derry City Council in 2005 as an independent but was not returned. “She had the distinction of succeeding John Hume in the Assembly, something I know she never took lightly. “She was a first-class public servant who devoted her life to helping others and anyone who knew Annie would describe her as a true lady.