In a poignant ceremony at Fallbrook Church in Houston, Texas, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, paid tribute to the late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee.
Ambassador Marks celebrated the life and legacy of a remarkable leader whose roots were deeply intertwined with Jamaican heritage.
Invited by the Jackson-Lee family to speak, Ambassador Marks highlighted the significance of August 1st, the date of the funeral, which coincided with the 190th anniversary of the emancipation of slavery in Jamaica and the British Caribbean. “This is a most fitting day to honor the profound connection she had with a country that holds a special place in the hearts of over 3.2 million Jamaican Americans,” she noted.
Addressing the congresswoman’s family, including her children Jason and Erica, Ambassador Marks emphasized Jackson-Lee’s pride in her Jamaican ancestry and her active support for Jamaica. The congresswoman, the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, was an icon to the Jamaican diaspora in the United States, embodying cherished Jamaican characteristics and setting an example for future generations of Jamaican Americans.
Ambassador Marks highlighted Jackson-Lee’s role in the tradition of Caribbean diaspora members who have embraced the American dream while contributing to societal progress. “Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee’s life and work represented an extension of that great tradition,” Marks stated, noting that over 400 Jamaican Americans are currently involved in representational politics across federal, state, and local governments in the United States.
In an audience that included US Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and members of the US Congress and Senate, Ambassador Marks praised Jackson-Lee’s advocacy for both her Houston district and broader U.S. interests, while steadfastly supporting Jamaica and the Caribbean. She credited the congresswoman for championing assistance to Jamaica during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and for her role in the legislation that recognized June as Caribbean American Heritage Month in the United States.
Describing Jackson-Lee’s work as “strong and courageous,” Ambassador Marks commended her unwavering commitment to justice, her passion for making a difference, and her dedication to faith and family life. “She was the embodiment of what it means to be in service of others, to stand up for justice, brotherhood, and peace, and to think generously and honestly,” Marks declared.
Ambassador Audrey Marks concluded by affirming that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee’s legacy will continue to inspire and uplift generations to come, embodying the values cherished in both her adopted home and her ancestral land.
The ceremony was attended by many dignitaries, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, and numerous members of the US Congress and Senate.
Read: US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the Granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, dies
