President Biden, members of Congressional Black Caucus bid farewell to the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson at Monday wake

DALLAS — President Joseph Biden, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Democratic leader U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and dozens of elected officials from across the state and around the country spent Monday night in Dallas remembering the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. “Without an Eddie Bernice Johnson, there would be no Vice President [Kamala} Harris.

Without Eddie Bernice Johnson, there would be no U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brown Jackson," said Pastor Michael Waters. “Eddie Bernice Johnson extends a baton from the balcony of heaven.” The wake began at 6:30 p.m. at Concord Church in southern Dallas County. U.S. Representatives James Clyburn, Bennie Thompson, Jasmine Crockett, Gregory Meeks, Marc Veasey, Sylvia Garcia, Al Green, Sanford Bishop, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and State Sen.

Nathan Johnson were among many officials who attended Monday night. “Eddie Bernice Johnson was our yellow rose. She was a civil rights fighter. She did not allow injustices to get by here. She would work across the aisle, but she would fight for what is right,” said U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D Houston.

Johnson died on Dec. 31, 2023 from an infection in her back. She was 89. She spent 30 years in Washington representing Dallas. Johnson was the first woman to chair the U.S. House of Representatives Science, Space and Technology committee. She was the first nurse ever elected to Congress. She served in the Texas Senate, worked in the Carter administration and was the first Black woman ever elected to public office from Dallas..