PHOTOS: Texan Of The Year 2022: Opal Lee's Juneteenth Journey - The Dallas Morning News

The Juneteenth proclamation from 1865 noted the end of slavery in Texas and is kept at the Dallas Historical Society. The society considers the Juneteenth proclamation to be its most valuable artifact.

The Juneteenth proclamation from 1865 noted the end of slavery in Texas and is kept at the Dallas Historical Society. The society considers the Juneteenth proclamation to be its most valuable artifact.(Mark Birnbaum Productions)

Oinette Flake, niece of Opal Lee, decorates her car in preparation for the Juneteenth parade in Fort Worth on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Oinette Flake, niece of Opal Lee, decorates her car in preparation for the Juneteenth parade in Fort Worth on Friday, June 19, 2020.(Lawrence Jenkins / Special Contributor)

Ninety-four-year-old activist and retired educator Opal Lee, known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden after he signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in the East Room of the White House on June 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. The Juneteenth holiday marks the end of slavery in the United States and the Juneteenth National Independence Day will become the 12th legal federal holiday — the first new one since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983.(Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

President Joe Biden signs the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Washington. From left, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif, Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., Opal Lee, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., obscured, Vice President Kamala Harris, House Majority Whip James Clyburn of S.C., Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas.(Evan Vucci / AP)

President Joe Biden points to Opal Lee after signing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Washington. From left, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif, Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., Opal Lee, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., Vice President Kamala Harris, House Majority Whip James Clyburn of S.C., Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, obscured, Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas.(Evan Vucci / AP)

People take photos as Opal Lee holds a pen and is seated where President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Washington.

People take photos as Opal Lee holds a pen and is seated where President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Washington.(Evan Vucci / AP)

Opal Lee holds a copy of the Act that makes Juneteenth a federal holiday in her home in Forth Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021.

Opal Lee holds a copy of the Act that makes Juneteenth a federal holiday in her home in Forth Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)

TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr., left, and Provost Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, right, presents Opal Lee, center, with an honorary Doctor of Letters at Commencement ceremonies in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021.

TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr., left, and Provost Teresa Abi-Nader Dahlberg, right, presents Opal Lee, center, with an honorary Doctor of Letters at Commencement ceremonies in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021.(Michael Ainsworth / Special Contributor)

During her walk through downtown Fort Worth, Opal Lee (center) stopped in the middle of Commerce St. and danced to a live music performance for her, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021. For the first time since her dream of Juneteenth being made a national holiday became reality. President Joe Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a federal holiday. At 94 years old, Ms. Opal Lee marked Juneteenth by speaking with supporters at the historic courthouse after cooling down from the hot walk.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Supporters of Opal Lee and her Juneteenth walk event make the hot, holiday trek through the Historic Southside to downtown Fort Worth, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021. For the first time since her dream of Juneteenth being made a national holiday became reality, Ms. Opal Lee (walking behind SUV in white shirt) led a 2.5 mile caravan from Historic Southside to the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

For the first time since her dream of Juneteenth being made a national holiday became reality, Ms. Opal Lee (waving to fans) led a 2.5 mile caravan from Historic Southside to the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth, Saturday.

For the first time since her dream of Juneteenth being made a national holiday became reality, Ms. Opal Lee (waving to fans) led a 2.5 mile caravan from Historic Southside to the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth, Saturday.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Supporters of Opal Lee and her Juneteenth walk event make the holiday hot trek through downtown Fort Worth, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021.

Supporters of Opal Lee and her Juneteenth walk event make the holiday hot trek through downtown Fort Worth, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

For the first time since her dream of Juneteenth being made a national holiday became reality, Ms. Opal Lee led a 2.5 mile caravan from Historic Southside to the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth, Saturday, June 19, 2021, to commemorate freedom from slavery. At 94 years old, Ms. Opal Lee marked the Juneteenth by speaking with supporters at the historic courthouse after she cooled down from her walk.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Tee-shirts bearing the likeness of Opal Lee were sold for the walk that started at Evans Avenue Plaza in Fort Worth, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021.

Tee-shirts bearing the likeness of Opal Lee were sold for the walk that started at Evans Avenue Plaza in Fort Worth, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Opal Lee, right, had a shaded escort as she trekked down Evans Ave headed for downtown Fort Worth in the heat, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021. For the first time since her dream of Juneteenth being made a national holiday became reality.

Opal Lee, right, had a shaded escort as she trekked down Evans Ave headed for downtown Fort Worth in the heat, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021. For the first time since her dream of Juneteenth being made a national holiday became reality.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Supporters of Opal Lee and her Juneteenth walk event make the hot holiday trek through the Historic Southside to downtown Fort Worth, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021.

Supporters of Opal Lee and her Juneteenth walk event make the hot holiday trek through the Historic Southside to downtown Fort Worth, Saturday morning, June 19, 2021.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

For the first time since her dream of Juneteenth being made a national holiday became reality, Ms. Opal Lee (center) led a 2.5 mile caravan from Historic Southside to the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth, Saturday, June 19, 2021, to commemorate freedom from slavery.

For the first time since her dream of Juneteenth being made a national holiday became reality, Ms. Opal Lee (center) led a 2.5 mile caravan from Historic Southside to the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth, Saturday, June 19, 2021, to commemorate freedom from slavery.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

New Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker (left) surprises Opal Lee before setting out on her Juneteenth walk from Evans Avenue Plaza.

New Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker (left) surprises Opal Lee before setting out on her Juneteenth walk from Evans Avenue Plaza.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

People lined the streets in Fort Worth as 93-year old activist Opal Lee marched 2.5 miles as part of her campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday on Friday, June 19, 2020.

People lined the streets in Fort Worth as 93-year old activist Opal Lee marched 2.5 miles as part of her campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday on Friday, June 19, 2020.(Lawrence Jenkins / Special Contributor)

Hundreds of people participated in a parade in Fort Worth as 93-year old activist Opal Lee marched 2.5 miles as part of her campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Hundreds of people participated in a parade in Fort Worth as 93-year old activist Opal Lee marched 2.5 miles as part of her campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday on Friday, June 19, 2020.(Lawrence Jenkins / Special Contributor)

Ninety-three year old activist Opal Lee marched 2.5 miles as part of her campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Ninety-three year old activist Opal Lee marched 2.5 miles as part of her campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday on Friday, June 19, 2020.(Lawrence Jenkins / Special Contributor)

Then Sen. Barack Obama meets Opal Lee in the crowd after delivering a speech during a presidential campaign rally at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth on Thursday, February 28, 2008.

Then Sen. Barack Obama meets Opal Lee in the crowd after delivering a speech during a presidential campaign rally at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth on Thursday, February 28, 2008.(VERNON BRYANT / 128689)

Opal Lee displays memorabilia along with family photos around her home in Fort Worth on Friday,

Opal Lee displays memorabilia along with family photos around her home in Fort Worth on Friday,(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)

Opal Lee looks at a painting of herself in her home in Fort Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021.

Opal Lee looks at a painting of herself in her home in Fort Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)

Opal Lee poses for a portrait in her home in Fort Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021. Lee, a retired teacher, counselor, and activist in the movement to make Juneteenth a federally-recognized holiday.

Opal Lee poses for a portrait in her home in Fort Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021. Lee, a retired teacher, counselor, and activist in the movement to make Juneteenth a federally-recognized holiday.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)

Opal Lee's children book about Juneteenth in her home in Fort Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021.

Opal Lee’s children book about Juneteenth in her home in Fort Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)

Opal Lee poses for a portrait in her home in Fort Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021.

Opal Lee poses for a portrait in her home in Fort Worth on Friday, December 10, 2021.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)

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PHOTOS: Texan Of The Year 2022: Opal Lee’s Juneteenth Journey – The Dallas Morning News

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