“Brilliant,” “dear friend” and “old sister” were a few words that U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Jamaica) used to described his colleague U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston), who died last Friday at age 74 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
“Her dedication to public service and advocacy for justice and equality will always be remembered,” said Meeks with a heavy heart in post on X as he sent condolences to her family. “My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones.”
Jackson Lee grew up in Southeast Queens and was an alum of Jamaica High School.
“She went on to Yale Law School and graduated before her move to Houston,” Meeks told the Chronicle Monday. “She was a brilliant member of the United States Congress and one of the most dominant individuals for Civil Rights on the Judiciary Committee.”
Jackson Lee fought for human rights, voting rights and helped Juneteenth to become law, said Meeks.
“She was there for the least and the forgotten,” said Meeks. “She really put her own footprints on the sand of Congress. She is going to be missed. She is a person that I talked to about various things, whether it was foreign affairs and she was the co-chair of the Pakistani Caucus. She was very instrumental when she was talking about the Caribbean. Her parents were from Jamaica.”
The Caribbean Equality Project, an advocacy group for Caribbean LGBTQ+ people, said it was proud of her work with helping to lead the Juneteenth victory and more.
“Caribbean Equality Project joins her constituents and fellow Caribbean Americans in mourning her passing, while celebrating her significant contributions to sharing our country’s democracy,” Mohamed Q. Amin, executive director of the organization, said in a statement.
Borough President Donovan Richards, a fellow Jamaican-American, expressed his condolences via X.
“We express our sympathies as we honor the memory of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a remarkable figure from Jamaica Queens who made a significant impact as a representative in Congress,” he said in a post. “May she rest in power.”
Jamaican President Andrew Holness said he was deeply saddened to hear of her passing.
“Sheila had a long and distinguished 29 year career as a legislator in the United States Congress,” Holness said via X. “She was a great friend of Jamaica and took great interest in matters affecting Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. I extend deep condolences to her family and her constituents. May her soul rest in peace.”
President Biden said he was honored to have worked with her for nearly 30 years.
“Always fearless, she spoke truth to power and represented the power of the people of her district in Houston with dignity and grace,” he said in a statement.
Meeks said that she was a stalwart advocate in bringing Civil Rights organizations together.
Amin said she also fought for LGBTQ+ rights while in Congress.
“She grew up in Queens and was a child of Jamaican immigrants, whose political legacy is rooted in racial justice, advocacy for LGBTQ+ and voting rights, and championing protections for survivors of domestic violence, including transgender and immigrant women,” he said.
Meeks said she was dynamite in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“She was a dear friend I called an older sister,” he said. “She was one that I would talk to especially on issues on that pertained to the Judiciary Committee to get her thoughts ... When I first came in, she embraced me knowing that I was from Southeastern Queens. She never forgot where she came from. In fact, her mother was still living here. She was also one that makes you think out of the box. She was a dynamic human being and a friend to all.”
The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority mourned Jackson Lee and said she was a “voice of reason” in Congress.
A fellow AKA, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (D-Jamaica), said she was a true champion of justice and left an indelible mark on the nation on X.
“Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a trailblazer whose lifetime of service touched so many,” Adams said. “I know that the state of Texas and our entire nation is better because of her.”
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) said she was deeply saddened by the passing.
“A wonderful colleague originally from Queens, she fought for a federal holiday for Juneteenth, the Violence Against Women Act and much more,” Meng posted on X. “A huge loss for our nation, Congress and @TheBlackCaucus. Praying for her loved ones.”
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn) said the congresswoman was dedicated to serving Houston and the country.
“She was a steadfast champion of progressive causes and was integral to efforts like reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act and advancing criminal justice reform,” Velazquez told the Chronicle via email. “She will be sorely missed, and my thoughts are with her family during this difficult time.”
State Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-South Ozone Park) said that Jackson Lee was a steadfast champion for justice and the underserved.
“Her dedication to advancing reparations was a testament to her commitment to righting historical wrongs,” Sanders said via email. “Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s unwavering advocacy to civil rights and social justice has left an indelible mark on our nation and her legacy will continue to inspire us all. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all who were touched by her remarkable work.”
U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also said that her passing was a tremendous loss.
“Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee fought so hard throughout her life to make our country a better place for all,” Schumer said in a Facebook post. “May her memory be a blessing.”
Her staff said in a press release that she was brave and that she was singularly focused on the needs of her constituents throughout her career.
In the weeks and months ahead, her staff will work with other leaders on the hill to continue her work in establishing the Emancipation National Historic Trail from Galveston, where 250,000 of the last enslaved Black people were freed on June 19, 1865, to Houston.
Her family said a funeral is pending.
“Her legislative victories impacted millions,” said her family in a statement. “She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire all who believe in freedom, justice and democracy.” Jackson Lee was a beloved wife, sister, mother of two and grandmother, they said.
