Dianne Williams-Cox

Mayor Pro-Tem Dianne Williams-Cox was born and raised in Quincy, Florida; first born to Robert Louis Williams and Mary Brown Wilkins. Her parents and grandparents modeled for Dianne the importance of community service and involvement – a lesson she would carry with her into her adult years. Dianne completed James A. Shanks High School high school with honors in 1981 and enrolled into Florida A&M University where she graduated with honors obtaining a B.S. Degree in Data Processing Technology. She is also a recipient of a Master’s in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Her high school government teacher, Mr. Carl Daniels, instilled in Dianne the importance of being active in the political process not only as a voter, but as a participant in helping others become informed. Mr. Daniel’s influence, coupled with that of her parents, has led to a life of strong voter advocacy and being an outspoken leader for causes in the Tallahassee community – especially for underserved residents in the city.

Dianne has been, for years, a leading advocate for enhanced women’s rights, including equal pay and eradicating workplace harassment, among others. She has also testified at city and county commission meetings, encouraging Commissioners to take their meetings into the city neighborhoods where inequities are obvious and where people feel they have no influence. At school board meetings, she’s voiced concern over failing schools on the Southside. She is also founder of the Southside United Citizens Action Alliance, an organization that bring citizens together to identify and educate others on issues and potential solutions for the Southside of Tallahassee. Her years of championing the causes of others made Williams-Cox the recipient of the 2018 Capital Outlook‘s “Community Activist of the Year” award Dianne’s service to the community has also been evident through her service to the Florida and Leon Democratic Party. She has served as Public Relations Chair for the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee, President of the Capital City Democratic Women’s Club (DWC) and Region 1 Chair for the Democratic Women of Florida which included DWC Clubs in Gadsden, Leon and Wakulla counties. Dianne most recently served as Vice Chairman with the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee.

Dianne is a strong advocate for education and eradicating poverty, using education to boost the livelihood of all people. She has been active on School Advisory Councils, Parent Teacher Student Organizations, Parent Teacher Associations and Athletic Booster groups. She also held positions on local boards such as the Capital Area Action Agency, the Bethel Empowerment Foundation and the Ivy Connection, Incorporated. Dianne has also served as Chairman of the Capital City Chamber of Commerce. Dianne began her work career as a software developer with General Motors in Detroit, Michigan and later joined the government defense contractor, Harris Government Systems in Melbourne, Florida. She worked for the State of Florida for 19 years and for many agencies including the Departments of Children and Families, Education, Management Services, Employment Opportunity, Revenue, Office of Insurance Regulation, and Florida Legislature Revenue. Dianne has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Florida A&M University. She has worked in the private sector and internationally. Dianne has been an advocate of small business and she is the owner of DWC Management Consulting Services. She currently serves as the Direct Services Quality Assurance Manager for Voices for Florida.

A servant leader at heart, Dianne has been the Past President of the Tau Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Quincy and Past President of the Chi Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Tallahassee and a former South Atlantic Cluster IV Coordinator of the sorority. She is currently the South Atlantic Regional Representative to the International Nominating Committee. She was the past President of Capital Park Baseball for 13 to 14-year olds and serves on several ministries at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, in Tallahassee. She married her high school sweetheart Thomas “Tommy” Cox; and she and her husband of 33 years have raised three sons who attended schools in both Leon and Gadsden Counties. She is also grandmother of six children. She is very honored to serve all citizens of Tallahassee as the Commissioner elected to Seat 5.