Opal Lee, 98, to return to Fort Worth to kick off Juneteenth events after a health scare while traveling

FORT WORTH, Texas — The family of 98-year-old Opal Lee, widely known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” is sharing reassuring news after a recent health scare.

“She is doing well. She is in great spirits,” said Dione Sims, Lee’s granddaughter.

Lee was traveling to Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 23 to be honored with the International Freedom Conductors Award. However, during the trip, she experienced a minor health issue. 

“She had a slight medical emergency, and so I had to pick up as Opal number two and continue and receive [the award] for her, but she’s doing good,” Sims said.

Lee is awaiting the doctor’s orders to be released from a Cincinnati hospital. She will return to Fort Worth this week in time for the start of the annual Juneteenth celebration, which she has never missed before.

The timing of the incident coincided with the beginning of Juneteenth celebrations. Lee has played a crucial role in the recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday, including collecting 1.6 million signatures in support of the movement. Each year, she issues a challenge for others to join her in the Freedom Walk and share their participation online.

“We want folks to go on their social media and post that. Let us see that, let her see that. We’re really trying to get 1.6 million folks walking for Juneteenth, that we got signing the petition,” Sims explained.

Lee is also focused on the development of the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth. Her granddaughter explained how the multi-use facility will impact the entire world.

“The ability for us to impact, you know, not just Fort Worth, but the nation, with the story of Emancipation, wherever it happened. I think that’s the beauty of the National Juneteenth Museum,” said Sims, who serves on the museum’s board.

Once back in Fort Worth, Lee is expected to kick off a series of Juneteenth events, beginning with her ecumenical breakfast on Saturday.

“We start Saturday with her ecumenical breakfast,” Sims said, “Pastor Milton Pace and Shirley Pace are our hosts. Then that night, it’s our Miss Juneteenth, the DFW pageant, and we’ve got seven young ladies that have been working since January… it’s a program and enrichment program that they’ve learned business skills, they’ve learned budgeting.”

There are several events for the entire family to enjoy, ranging from a resource fair, a 2.5-mile walk through Fort Worth’s Cultural District, cultural performances and more.

Sims hopes the celebrations will also reassure the public that Ms. Opal is doing well.

“When you’re the nation’s grandmother of Juneteenth, I mean, folks do want to know how the grandmother is doing,” she said.