Kamala Harris Honors Late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee as a ‘Force of Nature’ and Mentor

HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 01: Mourners gather to honor the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee during her funeral service at Fallbrook Church on August 01, 2024, in Houston, Texas. Community members and elected officials came together to celebrate the life of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. Vice President Kamala Harris, along with other dignitaries, was expected to attend and deliver remarks and the eulogy. Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty images

Aug 02, 2024 Story by: Editor

Vice President Kamala Harris paid tribute to the late U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee on Thursday, describing her as a “force of nature” during a heartfelt eulogy as memorials for the influential Democratic lawmaker came to a close.

Taking a break from her presidential campaign, Harris reflected on Jackson Lee’s legacy as a skilled coalition builder and legislative expert. With a touch of humor, Harris recalled moments of avoiding Jackson Lee in the hallways due to her intensity and high expectations.

“She always expected in all of us that we would rise to a point of excellence, knowing that life was too short and there's too much to be done,” Harris shared. She mentioned that just days before Jackson Lee passed away on July 19 at the age of 74 after battling pancreatic cancer, she had called her to express gratitude for their friendship.

"To honor her memory, let us continue to fight," Harris urged the audience.

As the first Black woman poised to be a major party’s presidential candidate, Harris stands on the shoulders of trailblazers like Jackson Lee, who was one of Congress' most prominent Black women during her nearly 30-year tenure representing Houston. Jackson Lee was instrumental in leading federal initiatives to combat domestic violence and was a key advocate in recognizing Juneteenth as a national holiday .

The funeral service, attended by more than 50 members of the U.S. House, saw House Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York praising Jackson Lee as a “voice for the voiceless.”

The church was filled with hundreds of attendees, many of whom cheered, stood, and even shouted “Thank you, Sheila” during the service. Former President Bill Clinton also spoke, recalling how Jackson Lee was always on his “just say yes” list whenever she called during his presidency. He highlighted her deep belief in equality, noting, “We are the longest lasting democracy in human history because we had enough people like Sheila Jackson Lee.”

Earlier in the week, services began with hundreds gathering at Houston’s City Hall to pay their respects as Jackson Lee’s body lay in state in a flag-draped coffin. President Joe Biden placed flowers near her casket and spent time with her family.

Among those paying their respects was Arva Howard, 72, who spoke of Jackson Lee’s deep commitment to the community. “We always knew if we needed something solved, Sheila was the person to go to,” Howard said.

Before the service, Calandrian Simpson Kemp, 53, stood beside a large photo of Jackson Lee in the church’s foyer, holding a picture of her own son, George Kemp Jr., who was killed by gun violence in 2013 . Simpson Kemp credited Jackson Lee with mentoring her in her fight to end gun violence and push for common sense gun laws.

“When I think of Sheila and her legacy, I think about empowerment. I think about the power of one,” Simpson Kemp reflected. “She never let up for people. She left it all on the battlefield, and I think it’s up to us now to pick up the torch.”

Jackson Lee had represented her Houston-based district since 1995. Prior to her tenure in Congress, she served on Houston’s city council from 1990 to 1994. Throughout her career in Washington, Jackson Lee emerged as a fierce advocate for women and minorities, leading efforts on social justice issues ranging from policing reform to reparations for the descendants of enslaved people. She was also at the forefront of the first rewrite of the Violence Against Women Act in nearly a decade, which expanded protections for Native American, transgender, and immigrant women. In her final years, Jackson Lee continued to champion these causes, though she was unsuccessful in her bid to become Houston’s mayor last year. Source: NBCDFW