Sheila Jackson Lee, a powerful voice for civil rights and social justice in the U.S. House of Representatives, has passed away at 74. Her chief of staff, Lillie Conley, confirmed that she died Friday night in Houston, surrounded by family, after battling pancreatic cancer.
For nearly three decades, Sheila Jackson Lee represented Houston’s diverse 18th Congressional District. Her tenure was marked by passionate advocacy for women, minorities, and social justice causes.
“She was just a rare, rare jewel of a person who relentlessly gave everything she had to make sure others had what they needed,” said Bishop James Dixon, who is a longtime friend.
Jackson Lee’s impact on national policy was significant. She played a key role in updating the Violence Against Women Act and was instrumental in establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021.
Born in Queens, New York, Jackson Lee’s path to Congress included stops at Yale University, the University of Virginia Law School, and service as a Houston judge and city council member. Her election to Congress in 1994 placed her in the seat once held by Barbara Jordan, another trailblazing Black woman from Texas.
Throughout her career, Jackson Lee was known for her tireless work ethic and attention to detail. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland wrote on X that,
“I’ve never known a harder-working lawmaker… She studied every bill and every amendment with exactitude.”
Her legacy includes fierce advocacy for gay rights, early opposition to the Iraq War, and leadership on issues like policing reform and reparations for descendants of enslaved people.
Despite facing some controversies, including a lawsuit alleging mishandling of a sexual assault complaint, Jackson Lee remained a formidable presence in Congress and her district. She easily won reelection multiple times and was preparing for another term when she passed.
Sheila Jackson Lee’s family remembered her as a beloved wife, sister, mother, and grandmother.
“She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire all who believe in freedom, justice, and democracy,” they said in a statement.