Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee rests in peace in Houston

Residents who lined up Monday to pay their respects to longtime Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, as her body lay in state at Houston City Hall remembered her as a defender of human rights and her community.

“I don’t know of another politician who worked as hard for our community as Sheila Jackson Lee, and I will always be grateful for everything she did for our community,” said Phyllis Moss, 62, a Houston resident who was among more than 100 people who lined up Monday morning to enter City Hall as the building opened to the public.

President Joe Biden was also scheduled to travel to Houston on Monday evening to pay tribute to Jackson Lee, according to the White House.

“No matter the issue — from racial justice to building an economy for working people — she demonstrated unwavering leadership,” Biden said in a statement after Jackson Lee’s death.

The congresswoman, who helped lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, was 74 when she died July 19 after treatment for pancreatic cancer.

His body will lie in state in the rotunda of Houston City Hall for 10 hours.

Residents, voters, officials and others lined up outside in hot, humid conditions before entering City Hall and filing past his flag-draped casket. A large photo of Jackson Lee, along with two large flower arrangements, stood next to his casket.

Some who passed by Jackson Lee’s casket stopped to pray while others took photos.

Eskender Tamrat walked by and waved an Ethiopian flag. Tamrat, who immigrated to Houston from Ethiopia, called Jackson Lee “a longtime friend of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian community.”

“She’s a huge community supporter. She’s a huge human rights advocate. But she’s also a global leader because she’s not just focused on the Houston community or the surrounding area, but she’s focused on improving every individual, every community,” said Tamrat, 70.

By Monday afternoon, several hundred people had already passed through the rotunda, according to a city spokeswoman.

The Democrat had represented her Houston-based district and the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1995. She previously suffered from breast cancer and announced her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on June 2.

During a brief ceremony with local faith leaders before the rotunda opened to the public, Mayor John Whitmire said he saw firsthand Jackson Lee’s passion and dedication to all Houston residents.

“She didn’t let a redistricting line or a dividing line get in the way of her voice. We’re gathered here this morning, sad but celebratory,” said Whitmire, who had reached out to Lee’s family to arrange for her to be laid to rest at City Hall.

Before being elected to Congress, Jackson Lee served on the Houston City Council from 1990 to 1994.

She is only the second person to have the honor of being laid to rest in the rotunda of Houston City Hall. The other person was renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey, who died in 2008.

Monday marked the beginning of a series of days dedicated to remembering Jackson Lee. Wakes and religious services are also planned for Tuesday and Wednesday before his funeral on Thursday.

Vice President Kamala Harris was scheduled to attend the funeral in Houston.

After her first election, Jackson Lee quickly established herself as a fierce advocate for women and minorities and a leading figure for House Democrats on a range of social justice issues, from police reform to reparations for the descendants of slaves. She led the first overhaul of the Violence Against Women Act in nearly a decade, which included protections for Native American, transgender and immigrant women.

Jackson Lee was re-elected to Congress without difficulty. She ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Houston last year.

Bobbie D. Nickerson, 71, a resident of suburban Houston, said the crowd that came to City Hall Monday for Jackson Lee showed “how much she was loved, cared for and respected.”