HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday eulogized longtime U.S. Rep. as a 鈥渇orce of nature鈥� as memorials for the longtime Democratic lawmaker drew to a close.
Harris took time away from her presidential campaign to describe Jackson Lee, who represented Houston in Congress, as a coalition builder and expert in the legislative process. Harris joked about hiding in the hall when Jackson Lee walked by because the lawmaker was so intense.
鈥淪he always expected in all of us that we would rise to a point of excellence, knowing that life was too short and there's too much to be done,鈥� Harris said. She said she called Jackson Lee, who died July 19 at age 74 after being treated for pancreatic cancer, a few days before then to express her gratitude for their friendship.
"To honor her memory, let us continue to fight," Harris said.
Harris is poised to be the first Black woman to be , and Jackson Lee was during her nearly three decades in Washington. Jackson Lee helped lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday.
More than 50 members of the U.S. House attended Thursday鈥檚 funeral service. New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said Jackson Lee was a 鈥渧oice for the voiceless.鈥�
The crowd of several hundred in the church cheered and often stood during the service and at times people in the audience yelled out, 鈥淭hank you Sheila.鈥�
Former President Bill Clinton said Jackson Lee was on his 鈥渏ust say yes鈥� list whenever she called him during his time in office. She 鈥渞eally believed that we are all created equal,鈥� he said, emphasizing, 鈥淲e are the longest lasting democracy in human history because we had enough people like Sheila Jackson Lee.鈥�
Services for Jackson Lee began on Monday when hundreds of people to her as her body lay in state in a flag-draped coffin inside Houston鈥檚 City Hall. President Joe Biden placed a bouquet of flowers near her casket and visited with Jackson Lee鈥檚 family.
Arva Howard, 72, who was among the hundreds to pay respects Thursday, said Jackson Lee cared deeply for people. 鈥淲e always knew if we needed something solved, Sheila was the person to go to,鈥� Howard said.
Before the service, Calandrian Simpson Kemp, 53, posed next to a large photo of Jackson Lee in the church鈥檚 foyer while holding up a photo of her 20-year-old son, George Kemp Jr., who died from gun violence in 2013. Simpson Kemp said Jackson Lee was a mentor in Simpson Kemp鈥檚 efforts to stop gun violence and enact common sense gun laws after her son鈥檚 death.
鈥淲hen I think of Sheila and her legacy, I think about empowerment. I think about the power of one,鈥� Simpson Kemp said. 鈥淪he never let up for people. She left it all on the battlefield, and I think it鈥檚 up to us now to pick up the torch.鈥�
Jackson Lee represented her Houston-based district since 1995. She previously had breast cancer and announced the on June 2.
Before being elected to Congress, Jackson Lee served on Houston鈥檚 city council from 1990 to 1994.
In Washington, Jackson Lee established herself as a fierce advocate for women and minorities and a leader for House Democrats on many social justice issues, from policing reform to reparations for descendants of enslaved people. She led the first rewrite of the in nearly a decade, which included protections for Native American, transgender and immigrant women.
Jackson Lee to be Houston鈥檚 mayor last year.
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Juan A. Lozano And Chris Megerian, The Associated Press
