Longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who played a pivotal role in federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, passed away at 74. Lillie Conley, her chief of staff, confirmed that Jackson Lee, who had pancreatic cancer, died in Houston with her family by her side on Friday night.
A Democrat, Jackson Lee had represented her Houston-based district and the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1995.Despite a previous battle with breast cancer, she announced her pancreatic cancer diagnosis on June 2, remaining steadfast in her faith and commitment to her duties. Bishop James Dixon, a longtime friend, described her as a relentless fighter who gave everything she had for the betterment of others.
Jackson Lee’s political journey began when she was elected to the Houston district once represented by Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to Congress from a Southern state since Reconstruction. In 1995, she was immediately placed on the high-profile House Judiciary Committee. She quickly became known for her fierce advocacy for women and minorities, leading efforts on social justice issues, from policing reform to reparations for descendants of enslaved people.
She was instrumental in the first rewrite of the Violence Against Women Act in nearly a decade, which included protections for Native American, transgender, and immigrant women. Additionally, she championed the 2021 effort to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday, marking the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas.
Born in Queens, New York, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia. Before her congressional career, she served as a judge in Houston and was elected to the Houston City Council in 1989. Throughout her career, she was a vocal advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003.
Top congressional Democrats praised her commitment and work ethic upon hearing of her passing. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina lauded her as a tenacious advocate for civil rights, while Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland highlighted her meticulous approach to legislation. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi commended her determination in making Juneteenth a national holiday. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott remembered her as a tireless advocate for Houston.
Jackson Lee consistently won reelection to Congress with ease, only facing significant challenges a few times. Although she considered running for Houston’s mayor in 2023, she was defeated in a runoff but continued her congressional duties by securing the Democratic nomination for the 2024 general election. During her mayoral campaign, she expressed regret over an unverified audio recording of her berating staff members, emphasizing the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect.
In 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down from leadership positions on the House Judiciary Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation following a lawsuit from a former employee. Despite these challenges, her family remembered her as a beloved wife, sister, mother, anandmother known affectionately as Bebe.
Sheila Jackson Lee’s political career spanned nearly three decades, during which she served as chairwoman of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and held senior positions on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget committees. Her relentless advocacy for social and economic justice, national and homeland security, energy independence, and children’s and working families’ rights made her a prominent figure in Congress.
Sheila Jackson Lee was born on January 12, 1950, in Queens, New York. Her father, Ezra Jackson, was a cartoonist for Marvel in the 1940s, and her mother, Ivalita Bennett Jackson, was a vocational nurse. Inspired by the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson Lee pursued higher education, transferring from New York University to Yale and later earning a law degree from the University of Virginia. Marriage brought her to Houston, where she worked as a lawyer and judge before entering politics.
Jackson Lee’s political career began in 1990 with her election to Houston’s City Council. In 1994, she was elected to Congress, where she served nearly 30 years. Her ambition and dedication were driven by a desire to provide fair opportunities for women and minorities. Despite her defeat in the Houston mayoral race last year, she remained a respected and influential figure.
In addition to her husband, Elwyn Cornelius Lee, Sheila Jackson Lee is survived by their two children, Jason Cornelius Bennett and Erica Shelwyn, and grandchildren. Her legacy as a dedicated public servant and champion for her constituents will continue to inspire those who believe in freedom, justice, and democracy.
With inputs from agencies
A Democrat, Jackson Lee had represented her Houston-based district and the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1995.Despite a previous battle with breast cancer, she announced her pancreatic cancer diagnosis on June 2, remaining steadfast in her faith and commitment to her duties. Bishop James Dixon, a longtime friend, described her as a relentless fighter who gave everything she had for the betterment of others.
Jackson Lee’s political journey began when she was elected to the Houston district once represented by Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to Congress from a Southern state since Reconstruction. In 1995, she was immediately placed on the high-profile House Judiciary Committee. She quickly became known for her fierce advocacy for women and minorities, leading efforts on social justice issues, from policing reform to reparations for descendants of enslaved people.
She was instrumental in the first rewrite of the Violence Against Women Act in nearly a decade, which included protections for Native American, transgender, and immigrant women. Additionally, she championed the 2021 effort to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday, marking the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas.
Born in Queens, New York, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia. Before her congressional career, she served as a judge in Houston and was elected to the Houston City Council in 1989. Throughout her career, she was a vocal advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003.
Top congressional Democrats praised her commitment and work ethic upon hearing of her passing. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina lauded her as a tenacious advocate for civil rights, while Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland highlighted her meticulous approach to legislation. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi commended her determination in making Juneteenth a national holiday. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott remembered her as a tireless advocate for Houston.
Jackson Lee consistently won reelection to Congress with ease, only facing significant challenges a few times. Although she considered running for Houston’s mayor in 2023, she was defeated in a runoff but continued her congressional duties by securing the Democratic nomination for the 2024 general election. During her mayoral campaign, she expressed regret over an unverified audio recording of her berating staff members, emphasizing the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect.
In 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down from leadership positions on the House Judiciary Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation following a lawsuit from a former employee. Despite these challenges, her family remembered her as a beloved wife, sister, mother, anandmother known affectionately as Bebe.
Sheila Jackson Lee’s political career spanned nearly three decades, during which she served as chairwoman of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and held senior positions on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget committees. Her relentless advocacy for social and economic justice, national and homeland security, energy independence, and children’s and working families’ rights made her a prominent figure in Congress.
Sheila Jackson Lee was born on January 12, 1950, in Queens, New York. Her father, Ezra Jackson, was a cartoonist for Marvel in the 1940s, and her mother, Ivalita Bennett Jackson, was a vocational nurse. Inspired by the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson Lee pursued higher education, transferring from New York University to Yale and later earning a law degree from the University of Virginia. Marriage brought her to Houston, where she worked as a lawyer and judge before entering politics.
Jackson Lee’s political career began in 1990 with her election to Houston’s City Council. In 1994, she was elected to Congress, where she served nearly 30 years. Her ambition and dedication were driven by a desire to provide fair opportunities for women and minorities. Despite her defeat in the Houston mayoral race last year, she remained a respected and influential figure.
In addition to her husband, Elwyn Cornelius Lee, Sheila Jackson Lee is survived by their two children, Jason Cornelius Bennett and Erica Shelwyn, and grandchildren. Her legacy as a dedicated public servant and champion for her constituents will continue to inspire those who believe in freedom, justice, and democracy.
With inputs from agencies