Date: 2010-09-16
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. this is a special time that we have an opportunity to listen closely to our colleagues and to share some of the pearls of those who live in the United States with our colleagues. And it gives me great pleasure to be able to come today and to express my deepest love and affection for a wonderful woman. a woman of strength. who has gone home to rest and to receive joy. Beulah Shepard is a very special person in the eyes of our community. Houston and Texas. And today I stand on the floor of the House to call her an American hero. Beulah Shepard passed away this last week. and so we have only our memories. But I want to say to those of you who have known someone that has touched your life. let me just simply tell you the story of my friend Beulah Shepard. She of course was a mother. was a wife. She has children. grandchildren. and great grandchildren. And of course she understood the Constitution. and believed in one vote for every human being. I had a chance to talk to her wonderful daughters. Bobbie and Dianne. and the wonderful family that she has as she lived her last years. And I will tell you our community will remember her as a political icon. someone you went to if you knew what was right. if you wanted to be part of the Houston political community. But my husband and I know her as friends. And she greeted us as a young couple. and told us how to stay on the straight and narrow. I know her wonderful grandson. who was challenged. and how she was endeared with him. And everywhere Sister Beulah went. her grandson went with her. I loved watching him grow up. Yes. a political icon she was. But she was more than that. As a mother she loved. as a grandmother she loved. But she believed in public service. not in just the idea of the name of politicians. She believed that if you accepted the oath of office you must serve the public. She did so. As a member of the United Way board. one of the first African Americans to ever serve on our Harris County United Way board. she made sure that the vulnerable were taken care of. A member of the Harris County Council of Organizations. An active and loving member of the Galilee Baptist Church. where she loved her pastor. Pastor Davis. and the first lady. More importantly. let me tell you that she was a woman of courage and strength and inspiration. I loved her when she stood and fought. She would understand all the debate. those who are against and those who are for. But I tell you she would tell it straight. And the way she would say it is that health care is going to help those who have never had health care before. She would say to those soldiers "thank you" for fighting on the front lines for our freedom. And she would say to them. I am using that freedom. Because you know. Beulah Shepard had to buy a poll tax to vote. She bought it in 1948. She came to Texas from Louisiana. She was named for her grandmother. She came from the salt of the earth. But she is an inspiration to all of us. And I am excited today to be able to say that Beulah Shepard lived to be 87 years old and had as one of the starring moments of her life to be able to vote for President Barack Obama. And why do I say that? Because Beulah Shepard walked and fought so that there might be those who would vote who had never voted before to have the opportunity to choose someone of their choosing. Let me tell you what she did in Commissioner Squatty Lyons office. Yes. she worked historically for this commissioner as the first African American among some that came after in those offices. I am gratified for that. because she took care of the vulnerable. those who were afraid to come downtown. those who didnt think government would work for them. Beulah Shepard took care of them. She will be laid to rest in these next hours. And I will simply say that we have the flag waving over this great womans life and legacy. Why do I say that. having not had her serve in the United States military? Because I know that our military represents the people of the United States and all of us have the opportunity to represent the value of the flag of this country. That value is to be able to cherish democracy. justice and to have the courage to fight for it. a loving mother who nurtured her children. a loving friend who cared for everyone. someone who brought joy. And it was a great joy to me to spend time with her in these last few years as she was so joyful with her family members all around her. She smiled. what a beautiful smile. When we took our pictures together in the front yard and inside the house. I know that she had great joy. So. Mr. Speaker. it is with great sympathy to the family that I offer. on behalf of the United States Congress. this tribute to Beulah Shepard. God bless you. may you rest in peace. and we love you.