Following a protracted fight with cancer, United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a well-known personality in Texas politics and an unwavering champion for human rights, passed away. Her age was seventy-four.
In an official statement, her office said, “Today, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas, with incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us.”
Representative Jackson Lee has been a member of Congress since 1995. She is known for her unflinching dedication to her constituents and her steadfast activism on issues of racial justice, criminal justice reform, and human rights. Her longtime colleague, Rep. John Lewis, observed she was “a local, national, and international humanitarian, acknowledged worldwide for her courageous fights for racial justice, criminal justice, and human rights, with a special emphasis on women and children.”
Jackson Lee started her political career in Houston, Texas, after moving from her birthplace of Queens, New York. Before her election to Congress, she was elected to the Houston City Council and then to the municipal judge position. Throughout her nearly three-decade career in the House of Representatives, Jackson Lee earned a reputation as a credible member of the Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees.
Her accomplishments in Congress include co-sponsoring the Emmett Till Antilynching Act and advocating for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. She also strongly advocated education reform, environmental justice, and healthcare reform. Her work went beyond American boundaries, promoting humanitarian relief and human rights worldwide.
Since Rep. Jackson Lee’s death, people from all political persuasions have sent their condolences. “Sheila Jackson Lee was a force of nature fierce, brilliant, and devoted to the causes that matter most,” President Joe Biden expressed his sorrow. Her legacy of equality and justice will serve as an example for future generations.
Locally, Sheila was a champion for her community and her people, as Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner stated in remembrance of her. Her selfless efforts changed numerous lives; Houston will always carry her spirit.
Elwyn Lee, Rep. Jackson Lee’s spouse, their two kids, and many grandkids survive her. Plans are being made for the funeral, and the family has asked for privacy at this trying time.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Sheila Jackson Lee Foundation, which funds social justice and educational programs in underprivileged areas.
Although her death signifies the end of an era, future generations will still be influenced and motivated by her legacy as a trailblazer and advocate.
