We are saddened to report that Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, who announced her pancreatic cancer diagnosis in June, has died. Her family announced this on Friday, July 19th, 2024. “A fierce champion of the people, she was affectionately and simply known as Congresswoman by her constituents for her near-ubiquitous presence and service to their daily lives for more than 30 years.” Representative Jackson Lee, 74, had served the 18th Congressional District since 1995.

While she had made Texas her home, Jackson Lee was born in Queens, New York. She planned to be an executive secretary before graduating from Jamaica High School and, according to her obituary in The NY Times. However, the assassination of Martin Luther King ignited a passion within her. She got a scholarship to NYU and later transferred to Yale, where she graduated—she later attended the University of Virginia to obtain her law degree. Jackson Lee moved to Houston when she married Elwyn C. Lee.

According to the NY Times, Jackson Lee served on the Houston City Council for four years before entering the congressional race when Barbara Jordan’s seat became available. Jackson Lee wanted to serve to help women, Black people, and Hispanic people get a fair shot at success. Her legacy is a testament that she did that and so much more.

A statement released by the Congressional Black Caucus lists includes some of them.

“A former CBC Whip and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a devoted and active member of our Caucus who championed many causes, including racial equity and improving policing and community safety in America – most recently reintroducing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in May 2024. 

“Representative Jackson Lee leaves her mark on the Congress as a former chair and first female ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and as a senior member of the House Committees on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget. During her tenure, she led many important legislative initiatives – authoring the Violence Against Women’s Act and the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act and introducing the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization, the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act, and the Federal Prison Bureau Nonviolent Offender Relief Act.”

While millions will continue to reap the benefits of her efforts, we remember these words from her family: “She impacted us most as beloved wife, sister, mother, and Bebe (grandmother).”

According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is estimated that 66,440 new cases will be diagnosed this year, and 51,750 people will die. The disease is often diagnosed in later stages, and symptoms are frequently mistaken for other medical conditions. To learn about pancreatic cancer, contact the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, which can provide information on resources for treatment, research, and support.

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