Rep Sheila Jackson Lee dies of cancer at 74, Internet calls Texas congresswoman ‘great champion’

AUSTIN, TEXAS: Texas Representative Sheila Jackson Lee died at the age of 74 after serving her Houston district for over three decades, according to CNN.

Her office announced in a statement on Friday, July 19, "Today, with deep grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas."

Rep Jackson Lee's battle with cancer

One of the two longest-serving members of the Texas delegation, Jackson Lee, revealed her pancreatic cancer diagnosis earlier in June 2024.

On June 2, she made her diagnosis public in a written statement. The announcement was made less than three months after she emerged victorious in a fiercely contested Democratic primary, as per Houston Public Media.

Notably, Lee had previously fought breast cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and declared her full recovery the following year.

Sheila Jackson Lee's lengthy political career

In the 1994 Democratic primary, Jackson Lee overcame four-term US Representative Craig Washington despite being the underdog. She went on to become a mainstay in Congress and Houston, with connections to the highest levels of the Democratic Party, according to The Texas Tribune.

For many years, Jackson Lee was a progressive mainstay on Capitol Hill. She opposed the Iraq War and was among the first to advocate for the rights of homosexuals. At the time of her passing, she held a prominent position in the House Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget committees.

Sheila Jackson Lee's contributions

In the 18th Congressional District, which covers Downtown Houston, she was well-known for frequently showing up to baby showers, funerals, and graduations of constituents.

She frequently fought to provide federal monies to Houston by displaying her signature chutzpah. She successfully lobbied then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to get $1 billion for the city's light system in 2009, just in time for then-President Barack Obama's first joint address to Congress.

Controversies surrounding Sheila Jackson Lee

According to a 2011 Daily Caller article that included several former staff workers, Jackson Lee was known for being one of the hardest members of Congress to work for, and often using derogatory language and slurs, stated Fox News.

One former employee said Jackson Lee "constantly" called him "you stupid motherf****r".

Another recounted an incident in which she overheard Jackson Lee call her a "stupid idiot" due to a schedule change.

Moreover, a passenger on a United Airlines aircraft from Houston to Washington, DC in December 2017, Jean-Marie Simon, said she was moved from her first-class seat so that Jackson Lee could have it.

Following a complaint filed by a former employee who claimed she was dismissed in retribution for preparing to take legal action about an alleged 2015 rape by a supervisor, Jackson Lee was compelled to step down as the chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) in 2019, as per Fox News.

Sheila Jackson Lee's family

Sheila Jackson Lee has left behind her husband Elwyn Lee, her two children - Jason and Erica, and two grandchildren, Ellison and Roy.

Her family added in the statement, "A local, national, and international humanitarian, she was acknowledged worldwide for her courageous fights for racial justice, criminal justice, and human rights, with a special emphasis on women and children."

Tributes pour in for Sheila Jackson Lee

Many politicians and social media users paid tributes to Sheila Jackson Lee.

New York congressman Jamaal Bowman wrote on X, "I’m devastated by the loss of my friend and colleague Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. She was a brilliant legislator, trailblazer for civil rights, and champion for reparations. I’m sending peace and strength to her family, loved ones, and constituents in this difficult time."

Rep Colin Allred wrote, "Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a fierce advocate for Houston and her constituents. No one worked harder for her community and if Houston needed something, she got it done. Her passing is a great loss and my condolences go to her family, friends and the people of Houston."

A user wrote on X, "A great champion. RIP" while one added, "May she sore among the Angels because she was one."

A person also stated, "I'm so saddened to hear of her passing - she was a dedicated, amazing, brilliant woman who, every single day, did Texas proud. She will be greatly missed. May her memory be a blessing."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.