Mary Abbay Galbreath, 77, a leader of Memphis civic and charitable activities and widow of financier William Duncan Galbreath , died Tuesday at her home. Mrs. Galbreath was instrumental in the creation of the Memphis Food Bank and served on its advisory board. In 1989, the Memphis Food Bank building was dedicated to her and three other founding members. She was born in Hernando, Miss., raised in Tunica, and graduated from Tunica County High School and the University of Mississippi. Mrs. Galbreath also attended Southwestern (now Rhodes College) and the Bohlmann School of Music. Mrs. Galbreath was selected as Southwestern ''Woman of the Year'' in 1961. She was chosen by the Junior League as ''Sustainer of the Year'' in 1986. She was a former co-chairman of the women's division of the fund-raising drive of Shelby United Neighbors, now United Way. She was president of Les Passees Club the year the first unit of the Les Passees Rehabilitation Center was built. Mrs. Galbreath was also president of the Mary Galloway Home Board the year the building was constructed at 5389 Poplar. She also served as president of the Woman's Council of Shelby United Neighbors, Memphis Committee of the National Society of Colonial Dames, the Memphis Woman's Club and the Tuesday Study Club. She was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. She served on boards of the Health and Welfare Planning Council, Volunteer Service Bureau, the Mental Health Association, Memphis chapter of the World Literacy Foundation, the YWCA, the Woman's Exchange, the Symphony League, Junior League Garden Club and Memphis Garden Club. Mrs. Galbreath served as co-chairman of Citizens for (Dwight) Eisenhower in 1952. She was married for 55 years to William Duncan Galbreath , who died March 24. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Independent Presbyterian Church, where she was a member, with burial in Elmwood. Canale Funeral Directors has charge. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Michael Jabaley of Jackson, Miss., and Mrs. Joseph Fisher of Memphis; a son, William Percy Galbreath of Memphis; a brother, Robert Irwin Abbay Jr. of Tunica; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The family requests that any memorials be sent to the Memphis Food Bank, Independent Presbyterian Church or the charity of the donor's choice. (Published in The Commercial Appeal on June 5, 1991)

[obituary provided by Carole McCaig]