The funeral, held at Fallbrook Church in Houston and lasting over three hours, drew a mix of notable current and former elected officials and celebrities.
Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a eulogy for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on Thursday. The event was attended by former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary Hillary Clinton, various members of the U.S. House and Senate, former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, and featured performances by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder, gospel singers Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, and Pastor Shirley Caesar.
“Sheila Jackson Lee was a true champion for justice,” said Harris. “She was a woman of deep faith and compassion, a beloved member of our Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and a dear friend to my husband Doug and me.”
Harris highlighted Jackson Lee’s dedication to her work both in Washington D.C. and Houston. She praised the late congresswoman for her meticulous attention to detail in policy-making.
“If there was a point of order to understand, Sheila Jackson Lee would ensure everyone understood it well and used it for the benefit of the people she served,” Harris noted.
Jackson Lee’s relentless and strategic approach to lawmaking was also underscored by the Vice President.
“There was never a trivial conversation with her,” Harris said. “She would always require a serious and specific discussion about what was on her mind and what she needed to get done.”
Harris recalled Jackson Lee’s determination to serve her community, citing an instance when she raised over $350,000 to keep Houston’s public pools open during a budget shortfall.
Jackson Lee’s advocacy for women’s rights, voting rights, LGBTQ rights, and making Juneteenth a federal holiday was also celebrated. Harris admitted to a brief stumble during her speech, correcting herself after mistakenly saying “As president.” The moment was met with cheers and applause from the crowd.
“It was my honor with our President, Joe Biden, to stand beside Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee as he signed her bill into law,” Harris said.
Other speakers included Rev. Al Sharpton, Attorney Ben Crump, and Dr. Glenda Glover. The funeral concluded with Stevie Wonder’s performance.