Texas Southern University Community Mourns Death of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Texas Southern University Community Mourns Death of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Posted on Saturday, July 20, 2024

Texas Southern University is deeply saddened by the passing of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. The Congresswoman represented the 18^th Congressional District of Texas from 1995 until her transition, a seat previously held by TSU alumni Barbara Jordan, George Thomas "Mickey" Leland, and Craig Washington.

"I never had the privilege of meeting Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in person. However, during my decades of military service I watched with deep respect from afar as she served her district, the State of Texas, and the nation with great distinction and effectiveness. Texas Southern University, an institution she loved and assisted on so many occasions, is the poorer for her loss. We mourn with her family and extend our deepest sympathy and sincere gratitude, as we acknowledge a life well lived," said TSU President J.W. Crawford III.

While many in the TSU community knew her as "The Congresswoman," today we stand with her family in prayer, knowing that one of her most important roles existed at home where she was a cherished wife and mother.

"I came to know the Congresswoman as a powerful advocate for Texas Southern University," said Brandon L. Simmons, TSU Board of Regents Chairman. "She was a friend and mentor to generations of students and alumni and a partner who embraced every opportunity to contribute her voice and energy to the university community. I also knew her as a mother, and the kindness that Erica and Jason always showed my family is a testament to the Congresswoman and Dr. Lee as parents."

As a senior member of the House Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget committees, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was an ardent supporter of the institution and worked tirelessly to ensure TSU's name was spoken in the halls of Congress and beyond in the nation's capital. Over nearly three decades in Congress, her advocacy resulted in millions of dollars in federal funding to support groundbreaking research on the TSU campus, as well as support for students, the Third Ward, and other Houston communities.

"We could always rely on Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's steadfast support of TSU and its students," Texas Southern University National Alumni Association President Corrie Williams said. "We are appreciative for her always standing for issues that are important to the Black community and Historic Black Colleges and Universities. TSUNAA is forever grateful for her advocacy, passion, and diligent service."

In 2023, Rep. Jackson Lee announced $2 million in federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support healthcare and housing initiatives at TSU. With that funding, work is now underway to renovate the W. R. Banks Child Development Laboratory to house the TSU Institute for Urban Public Health and Housing Equity. Earlier in 2024, she was present to announce a $50 million federal grant to the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice.

Over the Congresswoman's tenure in Congress, many TSU students got their first opportunity to work in the political arena through her office.

"Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's passing resonates nationwide," said 2023 graduate, former Congressional Black Caucus intern, and Pickering Fellow Dexter Maryland. "Born and raised in her district, I've felt her influence throughout my life. She gave me my first significant opportunity to serve the community where I grew up and attended middle school. As SGA President, I witnessed her unwavering support for TSU students, regardless of our cause. A true change agent and leader, she embodied what it means to show up for one's community. Her character and dedication set an enduring example. Her legacy as a tireless advocate and public servant will be cherished and profoundly missed."

"Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a formidable force with an unparalleled legacy," shared TSU alumnus and Environmental Protection Agency Press Secretary Remmington Belford, who worked in Rep. Jackson Lee's office as an intern with the Congressional Black Caucus. "Her more than three decades of service epitomized dedication and vision. She took a chance on young staffers like myself, pushing us toward excellence with her unique blend of high standards and unwavering support. I am profoundly grateful for her mentorship, friendship, and the relentless pushes that forged our paths to success. Her legacy is marked by landmark legislation, from the Juneteenth federal holiday to the Violence Against Women Act and HR 40 for reparations, each leaving an indelible mark on our nation. She championed environmental justice, making it a priority and amplifying the efforts of the EPA and Texas Southern University's Bullard Center. Her constant community presence and no-nonsense attitude were hallmarks of her extraordinary service. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's impact will forever inspire us, and her absence in Congress will be deeply felt by all of America. Thank you, Congresswoman, for everything."

The Congresswoman was a fixture on campus, never missing a Commencement, or a Homecoming, or an opportunity to pour into our students.

"During my days at TSU, while a member of the Sigma Pi Alpha Forensics Debate team, I never experienced Congresswoman Jackson Lee turn down an invitation to show her support for us," said 2006 graduate and Publicity Principal for Amazon MGM Studios Leshelle V. Sargent. "I'm forever indebted to the endless work, dedication and passion the Congresswoman showed us all."

Although the University is saddened by the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee we rejoice in the life she lived and are thankful for having been a part of her bright and shining life. She brought the gentleness and firm resolve to her generational leadership to overcome so many challenges as our nation evolved from limited opportunities to open doors for African Americans. Rep. Jackson Lee was often the voice that spoke out against those limitations and offered the hand to open the door. This community could not have been served better. Thank you, Madam Congresswoman, Thank you!

Texas Southern University's collective prayers are with the Congresswoman's family.

Category: Alumni, Faculty & Staff, Students, News Media

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