Mrs. Dianne Lynn Stone Williams

“Remembering…your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ…” (1Thessalonians 1:1, KJV)


Mrs. Dianne Lynn Stone Williams was a very special gift from God. She lived a victorious life in Jesus Christ because her faith was anchored in God’s Word, sustained by the power of prayer and the presence of the Holy Spirit.


As a beautiful, intelligent, strong Black woman of grace and dignity, Dianne faced life’s struggles and obstacles with a positive attitude, hope, courage, and determination. She was a pillar of spiritual strength and moral dignity.


Dianne was born on November 21,1952 to the parents of Louis Clinton Stone and Viola Washington Stone in Nashville, Tennessee. She had three brothers and two sisters. One of her brothers, Reverend Lester Darnell Stone, proceeded her in death. Dianne attended Nashville Public Schools including Meigs High School; however, she graduated from East High School in 1970.


On June 25, 1972, she united in holy matrimony with Mr. Theodore Kenneth Williams who is now with the Lord. God blessed their union with three daughters.


With her girls, Dianne fostered a loving, supportive, and open relationship that manifested into a closeness and unbreakable mother-daughters bond. She made sure to support her daughters in all things. During their high school years, she was a Maplewood High School band booster mom and oversaw the majorettes. Even as her daughters grew into adults and expressed interest in a sorority, she joined with them and became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In the ways that she handled life’s adversities and the ways that she carried herself at home and in the world, she not only taught but showed her daughters how to be strong, confident, black women.


The value of education and hard work was another moral she instilled in her daughters. Because she wanted to lead by example, Dianne received her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Trevecca Nazarene University, August 4, 1989.


Dianne showered her daughters and grandchildren with love and affection. She taught them to love God, love and support one another, and the importance of a loving family. She enjoyed Christmas’ in Texas with her family, going to her granddaughter’s dance recital, and listening to her grandsons talk about video games.


Blessed with a creative spirit and known for her bold, gold Gucci glasses and beautiful hats, Dianne loved to demonstrate her talents. Whether she was coordinating weddings for her family and friends, organizing retirement and birthday parties for coworkers, or creating beautiful baby showers, Dianne put her all into every event she coordinated. She created the most amazing and spectacular events that people still talk about to this day.


Her range of talents also poured into her 43-year tenure with the State of Tennessee Board of Parole, where she held several roles. Her most recent was Administrative Service Assistant 5 (ASA). She was dedicated to her job, and was loved and admired by her coworkers. She received numerous awards; including “The Tennessee Outstanding Achievement Award” in 1997. She worked hard to ensure the agency would be successful until the day before she was called home.


Another rock in Dianne’s life was her commitment to the Church. She accepted Jesus Christ at an early age. She worked hard for Christ and her community. Dianne was a dedicated and faithful member of First Street Missionary Baptist Church for more than 50 years. Because of her devotion to her faith, her Lord, and her church, she worked on church affairs until the day she was called home. She was a light of love that shined bright in her church and her community. Listed below are just a few examples of her service and commitment to her Lord and her church:


Church Involvement:
Member of the Beautifying Club
Chairperson for the Pastoral Search Committee
Member of the Hello Girls
Created the Children of Christ Program
Mother’s Board Treasurer
Church Trustee Board Member
Vacation Bible School Teacher
Church Secretary
Prepared the Lord’s Supper each 1st Sunday of the month
Former Member of Usher Board
Former Church Choir member
Former Sunday School Teacher Member of the Missionary Society
Former Member of the Missionary Society


Community Involvement:
Organized and distributed Christmas Food baskets each year
Distributing socks to patients at the nursing home.
Created and organized the church Food pantry which provides monthly food boxes to the community
Foster mom for Youth Villages, INC, caring for several at risk teenage girls
After an extraordinary service to the Lord, her church and to others, God called His good and faithful servant home to glory on Friday, October 22, 2021. May her legacy of love and service always inspire us. Dianne will be remembered as a kind and loving person. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, sorority sisters, church, coworkers, and community.


She leaves to cherish her sweet and precious memory, three daughters, April Williams, Tanisha Williams-Pentecost (Travis) of Nashville, TN, and Bridgett Pitre (Donald) of Grand Prairie, TX; grandchildren, Jordan Woodard, Tyler Pentecost of Nashville, TN, Dallas Pitre, Dillin Pitre of Grand Prairie, TX, and a bonus grandson DeMarco Pitre of Austin, TX; siblings, Jewel Swanson (Ronald), Dorothy Stone, Jerry Stone (Vickie) of Nashville, TN, and Louis Stone of Satellite Beach, FL; sister in law, Dr. Carolyn D. Stone of Lansing, MI; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; play daughter Carolyn Jenkins; play son, Rasheed Zamiah; two devoted friends, Cheryl Johnson and Carolyn Scott; and a host of other relatives and friends.