The family of the late Eddie Bernice Johnson, the trailblazing Black congressmember from Texas, has blamed a Dallas rehabilitation facility for her death and say they will file a lawsuit for medical neglect. Her family says the spine infection that led to her death on December 31 developed following back surgery, after staff at the Baylor Scott & White Institute left her lying in her own feces. Eddie Bernice Johnson was the first registered nurse elected to Congress, where she served for three decades.

On Tuesday, loved ones and community members gathered for her funeral at Concord Church in Dallas. Among those who paid their respects were lawmakers who were inspired and guided by Johnson. This is Royce West, Texas state senator.

Sen. Royce West: “What she made certain of is that issues concerning healthcare, accessible healthcare, that we worked on those issues, hire education, education, historically underutilized businesses, building coalitions based on interests, not based on the color of one’s skin, gender or political affiliation. And she often told us, 'Just because you speak loud don't mean you’re going to be able to get anything done.’ Her life is a manifestation of that.”