Lt. Diana Williams didn’t set out to make history, but that is just what she did.
Her trailblazing story was unveiled in a special exhibit at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.
Paula Wilkes, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, says, “It was important for me, Latrice, because Dana is a history maker, and that is something we are proud to show here in the museum and share that story.”
And that story is another piece of this community’s history that won’t go untold.
Jonnetta Patton, Lt. Diana O’ Neal Williams’ sister, says, “She loved her job. She wore that badge with honor.”
Her sister, Jonnetta Patton, remembers that strong foundation and determination that defined Williams even before the badge.
Jonnetta Patton, Lt. Williams’ sister, says, “Just an incredible person that loved everyone, you know, the sky. It was the limit with her.”
Patton says that it started at home with their mother and father. Williams was the fourth of seven children.
Jonnetta Patton, Lt. Williams’ sister, says, “My mother used to preach character like, what is she talking about?
They quickly found out. Long before her name carried rank and recognition, Williams was simply known as someone who showed up, steady, focused, and unwilling to back down, and would not tolerate disrespect from anyone.
Jonnetta Patton, Lt. Williams ‘ sister, says, “That’s what you tolerate, you validate, and she understood that. And as you grew to know her and you worked with her, that’s why they would trust her.”
When she joined the Chattanooga Police Department, she stepped into a space where very few people looked like her, and she rose through the ranks to become the department’s first Black female lieutenant. This wasn’t just a promotion; Williams was quietly reshaping what leadership looked like.
William O’Neal, Lt. Williams ‘ brother, says “At the time that she came along, and she was actually going into the police force, there were a lot of obstacles that she had to overcome, and she was here, some of the things with us, as far as what she was facing, being a Black female in a male dominated profession.”
Make no mistake, the road was very rocky at times. Things weren’t fair; the odds were stacked against her. Yes, there was racism and sexism, but nothing would stop her. She just worked harder. Her brother recalls her getting called in after having words with a male officer on the force.
William O’Neal says, “That person got the story, called her in and started reading her the writing, not giving her a chance to explain what was said. She got up, and she closed the door. She said, ” You’re going to respect me.”
That quiet, but steady strength carried Diana through long nights on patrol, through moments of doubt, and through the unspoken pressure of being “the first.” The first of the new possibilities and leadership.
William O’Neal, Lt. Williams’ sister, says, “Our young people, they look at, they’re looking at. They might say anything, but they’re watching this.”
Having managed the careers of her two sons early in their careers, JLack, a Grammy-nominated producer and R & B Superstar Usher, who also has a display at the Bessie. Jonnetta says she understands what it takes to have integrity and good character when you don’t have anything else.
Jonnetta Patton, Lt. Williams’ sister, says “Yeah, I was challenged, but I made it through, and made it through in a positive way because of my character.”
That character is a family trait that matters. Lt. William’s legacy isn’t just in a title, but more importantly, the doors she helped open and the barriers she broke down, so that others could follow.
