Four days of events honoring the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee kicked off Monday morning as hundreds of mourners gathered at Houston City Hall to pay their respects in person. 

The former municipal judge, City Council member and longtime Democratic member of Congress lay in state in the City Hall rotunda all day Monday. Mourners who paid their respects to Jackson Lee included City Council members, state legislators, members of Congress, influential Houstonians and President Joe Biden. 

Jackson Lee’s more than 30 years as an elected representative from Houston warranted Mayor John Whitmire bestowing her with the highest honor he possibly could, he said. 

“This is a celebration,” Whitmire said. “God does not allow us to choose when we lose a loved one, or friend, or colleague, but he does allow us to celebrate their lives, and pay our respects, and honor them.”

Jackson Lee is only the second person to lay in state in City Hall.  

Whitmire opened the proceedings Monday morning outside the City Hall steps alongside Jackson Lee’s family and other elected officials. The group then ushered into the rotunda, where they quietly stood in front of Jackson Lee’s casket as a Houston Symphony string quartet played “Amazing Grace.” The casket was draped with a U.S. flag and flanked by a Texas flag and a uniformed honor guard. 

Jackson Lee’s family stayed after the ceremony to greet visitors. Outside, a line of mourners wrapped partially around the building.

“The congresswoman supported and celebrated all of our communities,” said Regina Graves, a 57-year-old who lives in Humble. “I remember something as small as a funeral for my sorority sister, she was there. She was a prominent and avid supporter of our community. She was at everything, and I honor that.”

Third Ward resident Phyllis Moss said Jackson Lee’s commitment to her district was obvious to anyone who watched her.

“Most politicians should aspire to be like Sheila Jackson Lee,” Moss said. 

Monday was capped with a visit by President Biden and a delegation of Texas and out-of-state federal officials. 

Biden left a bouquet of flowers, placed a hand on the casket, then stepped and briefly bowed his head in prayer, according to a press pool report. He then stepped aside for a procession that included U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Cal., and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.

Biden greeted Jackson Lee’s husband, Elwyn Lee, and her two children, Erica Lee and Jason Lee after paying his respects. 

Biden signed the guest book as he left.

“Fearless, proud, and bold,” Biden wrote, according to the White House. “May God bless a dear friend and great American. May God bless you, Sheila Jackson Lee.”

Monday was the first of several services for Jackson Lee ahead of a Thursday morning funeral. A viewing and remembrance will be held at God’s Grace Community Church Tuesday afternoon and a community farewell and appreciation service will be held at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church on Wednesday.

Jackson Lee’s “Celebration of Life” service will be held at Fallbrook Church on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have all said they plan to attend Thursday’s service. Harris, the newly-minted presumptive Democratic nominee for president, will deliver a eulogy, according to the White House.

Jackson Lee represented Congressional District 18 for 30 years. During her career, she rose to the ranks of Democratic House of Representatives leadership and earned a reputation as a prolific public speaker and tireless worker on behalf of her district.

She ran for mayor in 2023, eventually losing to Whitmire in December.   

“I got to see firsthand the passion, the dedication, the commitment to the people that she represented (and) across Houston,” Whitmire said. “She wasn’t going to let a redistricting line or a boundary line interfere with her voice.”

While services play out this week, behind the scenes local Democrats are jockeying for position in the contest to replace Jackson Lee as the Democratic nominee for Congressional District 18. 

A vote by 88 precinct chairs to select the new nominee will take place in mid August. That person will almost certainly win the November general election in the heavily Democratic district. Former Mayor Sylvester Turner, state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, At-Large Councilmember Leitia Plumber and former Councilmember Dwight Boykins have expressed interest in the seat, but most are waiting until after this week’s ceremonies are completed before making their announcements official. 

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