[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 113 (Friday, July 6, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





       CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JUDGE HELEN SHORES LEE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 6, 2018

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
extraordinary life and legacy of Judge Helen Shores Lee, who passed 
away on July 2, 2018, at the age of 77. Judge Lee was the first black 
woman to serve as a judge on the Jefferson County Circuit Court, and 
was a daughter of the prominent civil rights attorney Authur Shores. 
Throughout her life, Judge Lee put her family and her community first. 
Her contributions as a public servant and advocate for equal justice 
will not be forgotten.
  On May 3, 1941, Judge Lee was born in Birmingham, Alabama, a city 
which would become the beating heart of the civil rights movement. Born 
to parents Arthur Shores and Theodora Warren Shores, Judge Lee grew up 
with her younger sister Barbara in Birmingham's historic Smithfield 
neighborhood, an area that was at the forefront of Birmingham's 
struggle for equal rights. Home to black leaders including A.G. Gaston 
and Peter Hall, Smithfield became known as ``dynamite hill'' because 
houses in the neighborhood were bombed so frequently by the Klu Klux 
Klan.
  Judge Lee's home was no exception. Because of her father's role as a 
prominent attorney in the civil rights movement, Judge Lee's family was 
regularly targeted. During one two-week period during the summer of 
1963, her home was bombed twice, injuring Judge Lee's mother and 
killing their pet.
  But Judge Lee's father refused to give up on his fight for equality. 
As an attorney, he worked for Autherine Lucy in her effort to 
desegregate the University of Alabama. Later he helped secure admission 
for Vivian Malone and James Hood, who successfully desegregated the 
school.
  Despite violent threats against her home, her family, and her 
neighborhood, Judge Lee pursued her education. Judge Lee graduated from 
A.H. Parker High School and then attended Fisk University in Nashville, 
Tennessee, to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Judge Lee then 
went on to earn her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from 
Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California.
  After graduating from Fisk University, Judge Lee married the love of 
her life, Robert Lee, Sr., and started a family with her new husband in 
California. For 55 years, until Judge Lee's passing, the couple 
remained happily married.
  Judge Lee practiced as a clinical psychologist for several years 
before following in her father's footsteps and becoming an attorney. 
With a law degree from Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Judge 
Lee joined her father's firm in 1988.
  From 1996 to 2000, Judge Lee served as a member of the Alabama State 
Ethics Commission. During her last two years on the Commission she 
served as the Commission's chairwoman.
  After 16 years of working with her father's firm, Judge Lee was 
appointed Circuit Judge of the Tenth Judicial Court of Alabama by 
Governor Don Siegelman. Assuming the bench in 2003, Judge Lee became 
the first black woman to serve in the Civil Division of the Circuit 
Court of Jefferson County.
  As a Circuit Judge, Judge Lee continued her commitment to community 
service, pushing herself and those around her to give their time to 
promote the welfare of the Birmingham community. For her tireless work, 
Judge Lee was recognized by the Young Women's Christian Association 
(YWCA) of Central Alabama with the Jeana P. Hosch Woman of Valor award 
in 2013.
  Judge Lee is preceded in death by her father Arthur Shores and mother 
Theodora Warren Shores. She leaves to cherish her memories her devoted 
husband of 55 years Robert Lee, Sr., her loving children, Robert Lee, 
Jr., Arthur Shores Lee (Vera), and Keisha Lee, her five beautiful 
grandchildren, Vincent, Ashely, Trenton, Trevon, and Leigh, her sister 
Barbara Shores, niece Danielle, nephew Damien, and a host of many 
cousins and special friends.
  On a personal note, Judge Lee was a true inspiration to me. Her keen 
intellect, calming influence, and fierce determination made her a role 
model and mentor to many. I am so grateful for her friendship and 
counsel over the years. I know that I serve in Congress today as 
Alabama's first black Congresswoman because of amazing black women like 
Judge Lee who paved the way. Her extraordinary legacy will continue to 
live on in the many people she impacted.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 7th Congressional District and the 
State of Alabama, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 
life and contributions of Judge Helen Shores Lee. She was a community 
leader and a Birmingham treasure whose community service and whose 
fight for justice touched countless lives.

                          ____________________