Though formidable and legacy-building, U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s monumentally impressive legislative accomplishments only tell a portion of her story.
The foundational essence of Jackson Lee cannot be found on congressional logs, legislative fact sheets or accounting ledgers that measure the colossal amount of funds and resources she helped direct to the district she served, the 18th Congressional District. Rather, Jackson Lee’s true legacy is written on the hearts of those she served in ways big and small, many times in front of cameras, but more often, behind the scenes with no fanfare at all.
The Defender has been inundated with testimonies from local, state and national residents eager to share their personal “Sheila Jackson Lee” stories. Here are just a few.
Dr. Michael O. Adams, Director, Texas Southern University Master of Public Affairs Graduate Program
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a true servant leader, dedicated to her constituents and unwavering in her commitment to public service. Her support for Texas Southern University was profound, and she always made herself accessible to the students.
During our Washington residencies, she insisted that we visit her office, creating memorable experiences for everyone involved. On one notable occasion, Congresswoman Lee arranged for my students to attend the confirmation hearings of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Following the hearings, she took the time to speak with the students, inspiring them with her unique perspective on the limitless possibilities ahead and the vital importance of engaging in public service. Her legacy of dedication and empowerment will continue to influence and inspire future generations.
D. Kimathi Nelson, Presiding Bishop, Shrine of the Black Madonna
Sheila Jackson Lee was elected to Congress in the early 90s. She started coming to the Shrine; her, her husband, and their two children. She came on a pretty regular basis and she would stay afterward and talk to me and our beloved founder about her vision, what she wanted to do, and how she wanted us to be a partner. She was a great friend of the Shrine during her years in office and fought hard for us to get money for disaster relief. When we opened up our buildings to take care of the people impacted by Hurricane Katrina she brought in a Congressional delegation to our property to look at what we were doing as we took in 200 families.
She always made sure the Shrine Cultural Center got the full federal support that it needed because the government didn’t want to give it to us because they said churches don’t pay taxes and they shouldn’t be getting any tax money. But Congresswoman Jackson Lee informed them that the Shrine Cultural Center was a business institution and it paid taxes, and if we didn’t get money, nobody was going to get money. So, she always fought for us.
I went to DC. I used to go once a year to visit with our caucus and see all our representatives at the same time. The last time I was there, I needed to see her about something in particular, and there was a big deal going on in Congress, so they stayed in session. Finally, she told me to go downstairs. Someone from her personal office took me downstairs below the Capitol, got on the train and road up under the Capitol, came up in this room, and all of the Congressional people were in there, milling and churning and arguing and debating. And she stepped out of all of that to talk to me to find out what was going on and to extend a helping hand in our time of need.
We shared an institutional affiliation because we both had attended Yale University. And when she found out that I was the pastor of the Black Church at Yale, she let me know that she was one of the founding deacons of the Black Church at Yale. So, our affiliation wasn’t just organizational, it was personal. She is a great person who’s going to be missed. And the old saying used by the legendary preacher Gardner Taylor when Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King passed applies now to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee: “A giant oak has fallen in the forest, and there’s a great space against the sky.”
Fernanda Razo, Award-Winning Educator
Rep. Jackson Lee spoke up against hostage diplomacy on July 4, 2023, in support of families of the #Citgo6 , including my dear friend Alexandra Zambrano Forseth, whose father and uncle were wrongly imprisoned in Venezuela for over five years.
Dr. Abdul Haleem Muhammad, Southwest Regional Student Minister. Muhammad Mosque No. 45
As-Salaam Alaikum. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a true servant and friend. She invited me to be her guest at President Obama’s final State of The Union Address. During a reception, she without any hesitation, introduced me to the Israeli Ambassador. Congresswoman Jackson-Lee also introduced me to the late Representative John Lewis. She did NOT deny her relationship with me, the Mosque, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam, or any of her constituents regardless of what anyone else thought. My heart is heavy. I’m truly going to miss her. May Allah be pleased with her and bring comfort to all who mourn her passing.
Dr. Mia K. Wright, Co-Pastor, The Fountain of Praise
In 2006, as a relatively new leader in the city, I had a casual conversation with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. She barely knew me but listened attentively to what I had to say. It centered on our desire to lead a mission team of 10 African American women to Tanzania. For most of these women, it was their first international trip; for others, it was their first trip to Africa. It was a significant mission to train the women of the villages with life and leadership skills and biblical history to equip them to share with other women in other villages.
Our team was ambitious, without experience, and unaware of governmental processes, including regulations for this type of travel.
From a mere desire shared with our Congresswoman, she walked our team through every necessary step. She personally oversaw that we submitted and received our Travel Visas to Tanzania. Her communication with us continued leading up to and following our mission program. When we met challenges while traveling abroad, her swift action ensured that all our travelers returned home safely.
This was the first of many times our Congresswoman stepped in to help our organization and community. Whether it was recovery efforts after nearly every storm or city-wide crisis or leveraging her political influence to empower others, she consistently helped the community and kept constituents informed.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee embodies the true spirit of public service. Her dedication and unwavering support have left an indelible mark on our lives and the lives of countless others. We will never forget her as a petite woman with a giant presence and an even greater heart to serve people.
If you have a Sheila Jackson Lee testimony about how she helped you personally or an entity or community you’re part of, please share it at news@defendernetwork.com, info line “Sheila Testimony.”
