{"id":459843,"date":"2026-10-08T06:20:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T06:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/459843\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T06:20:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T06:20:11","slug":"michelle-obama-honors-opal-lees-legacy-at-100th-birthday-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/459843\/","title":{"rendered":"Michelle Obama honors Opal Lee’s legacy at 100th birthday event"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Opal Lee turned 100<\/a>, and the woman known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth had a former first lady help her celebrate a century of life, legacy, and unfinished business.<\/p>\n

Michelle Obama headlined a special speaker series at the Fort Worth Convention Center, capping Lee’s centennial celebration while raising funds for the National Juneteenth Museum.<\/p>\n

For the crowd, it was more than a birthday party. It was a call to action.<\/p>\n

“It was awesome!” said Dr. Lyndia Thomas. “I enjoyed Michelle’s speech. I enjoyed the audience, the atmosphere, and everything. She was outstanding.”<\/p>\n

\"michelleobama.png<\/p>\n

CBS News Texas<\/p>\n

Obama shared personal stories about life in the White House, the scrutiny she faced, and the lessons she learned along the way.<\/p>\n

Analisa Gabriel brought her niece, Gabrielle Diaz, a recent college graduate who has admired the Obamas for years.<\/p>\n

“It wasn’t so much about the politics, but it was just about her and her life and lessons,” Gabriel said. “I was glad that I had my niece with me because she had life lessons for her young people.”<\/p>\n

Diaz said she even received a letter from Barack and Michelle Obama when she graduated from high school.<\/p>\n

For others, simply sharing the room with two women who have shaped American history was overwhelming.<\/p>\n

“I never would have said that I’m gonna be in the same room, in the same air, with Ms. Opal and Mrs. Obama,” said Rita Green-Bibbs. “I love it.”<\/p>\n

Green-Bibbs called the experience life-changing.<\/p>\n

But the night wasn’t just about looking back.<\/p>\n

Party attendee M.J. Jones said Obama’s message was clear: The responsibility to create change belongs to the next generation.<\/p>\n

“There’s change that still needs to happen,” Jones said. “Her job is not done. And she kind of instilled that in us tonight to keep going and to keep fighting.”<\/p>\n

That message echoed Lee’s own lifetime of advocacy.<\/p>\n

The Fort Worth civil rights icon helped lead the national effort to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Now, her vision for the National Juneteenth Museum aims to preserve that history and educate generations still to come.<\/p>\n

At 100 years old, Lee’s legacy is still being written.<\/p>\n

And on a night celebrating a century of her life, the crowd left with a reminder that the work she started is far from finished.<\/p>\n

\n More from CBS News\n <\/p>\n

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