Dr. E. Faye Williams to be crowned Queen Mother in Accra, Ghana

A Global Visionary Honored for a Lifetime of Service, Leadership, and Love for Humanity — Accra, Ghana November 23, 2025

In a historic and joy-filled ceremony that blends centuries of royal African tradition with the honor of modern-day achievement, Dr. E. Faye Williams will officially be crowned Queen Mother in Accra, Ghana. The event promises to be a resplendent moment not only for Dr. Williams but for all who will witness her decades of leadership, advocacy, and devotion to building bridges across continents and communities.

Under the golden Ghanaian sun, drums will beat softly as leaders, elders, and guests from around the world gather to celebrate a woman whose life has been defined by courage, conviction, and compassion. Dignitaries from the World Conference of Mayors will join local officials such as Hon. Francis Tetteh of Ghana and Queen Mother Wakeelah Martinez of Wichita, Kansas, both members of the organization’s board and Ltc. Tyrone Bost of Baltimore, Maryland. Together they will witness the crowning of a woman whose impact has touched generations and continents.

“I am deeply honored to accept this title,” Dr. Williams said, and I am filled with gratitude. “This is not just a recognition of my work, but of the collective efforts of those with whom I’ve served. Together, we will continue to strive for progress, unity, and empowerment. I am so excited to be able to work with my brothers and sisters in Ghana.”

The ceremony will be steeped in symbolism and spirit — a bridge between her heritage and her destiny. Ghanaian music will fill the air, dancers will perform in her honor, and prayers of thanksgiving will rise as Dr. Williams is crowned, adorned in ceremonial regalia that reflects both the beauty of her roots and the strength of her journey.

She will serve as Development Queen for Oyoko Community in Ashanti Region of the Republic of Ghana. The invitation comes from Queenmother of Oyoko, Nana Serwah Dwomoh Bonsu from the Oyoko Royal Palace.

A Life of Leadership and Purpose

Dr. Williams’ journey is a testament to purpose in action. For nearly two decades, she served as President of the National Congress of Black Women, leading with a fearless heart and unwavering devotion to justice and equality. Her voice has long echoed across the halls of power and the pages of history — not as an observer, but as a participant in shaping change.

A United Nations Peace Ambassador, Dr. Williams has stood at the crossroads of activism and diplomacy, advocating for the marginalized and mentoring young women around the world. She was instrumental in the effort that resulted in the U.S. Senate’s formal apology for failing to previously apologize for the tragedy of lynching — a milestone in America’s reckoning with its past.

A scholar and educator, she has served as a professor of International Law at Southern University Law Center, a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and held leadership roles within the National Education Association, including Director of the Overseas Education Association. Her extensive academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Speech, English, and Dramatic Arts; Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Public Administration; a Juris Doctor; a Doctor of Ministry; and an Honorary Doctorate in Theology.

Dr. Williams’ distinguished government service includes roles as Counsel to the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Judiciary and Education, chaired by the late Congressman Mervyn Dymally, and as Legislative Counsel and Chief of Staff to the legendary Mayor and Councilmember Marion Barry of Washington, D.C. She also served as a Presidential Scholars Commissioner under President Barack Obama, and her influence continues through her work with numerous national and international boards, including the World Conference of Mayors, the National African American Reparations Commission, and the African Diaspora Development Institute.

Her leadership is not only political — it is spiritual. As a minister at Greater Works Christian Church in Washington, D.C., she preaches with conviction that peace begins with compassion and action.

The Heart of an Author, Advocate, and Artist

Dr. Williams is also a writer, journalist, and storyteller whose words have become vessels for awakening. Her books, including The Peace Terrorists, which chronicles her 40-day peace mission in the Middle East leading up to the first Gulf War, and The Truth Shall Set You Free series, continue to inspire generations to seek truth and reconciliation. Her acclaimed book Dick Gregory: Wake Up and Stay Woke reflects not only her friendship with the late icon but also her shared passion for awakening consciousness through humor and truth.

As International President of the Dick Gregory Society, Dr. Williams continues to preserve and promote his legacy of justice, health awareness, and laughter as a means of healing. She also hosts the weekly radio program Wake Up and Stay Woke on WPFW-FM 89.3 in Washington, D.C., and contributes as a columnist for the Trice-Edney Wire Service, using her voice to inform, uplift, and inspire.

Honors Beyond Measure

Her life’s work has earned her hundreds of accolades — each a reflection of her light. She is a recipient of the NAACP Presidential Legacy Award, the United Churches Global Human Rights Award, and has been recognized by Ebony Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans and among the Power 150.

She is an inductee of The HistoryMakers and the Grambling State University Hall of Fame, as well as a member of Ford Motor Company’s Freedom Sisters, Who’s Who in Black DC, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she is a Life Member. Her honors also include the “I Rise” Award for her work on domestic violence awareness (as a survivor herself), the Woman of Courage Award from the National Women’s Political Caucus, and the Visionary Leadership Award from the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Congress of Black Women — an award now named in her honor.

A Vision for the Future

Now, as Queen Mother, Dr. Williams steps into a new chapter of service — one rooted in unity, uplift, and legacy. Her vision includes educational and social initiatives across Ghana and the African Diaspora, with a focus on empowering young girls. She and Kendra Fipps have already launched a program in The Gambia, helping young women stay in school, and plans to expand these efforts across the region in partnership with community leaders and educators.

“This moment is bigger than me,” she said. “It is about connection — between nations, between generations, and between all of God’s children. We must use our gifts to build, to heal, and to lead with love.”

As the ceremony draws to a close, the sun begins to set over Accra. The crowd will sing — a hymn of celebration that will echo from the heart of Africa to the streets of Washington, D.C. It was a reminder that her story — from the classrooms of Louisiana to the corridors of Congress and now to the royal courts of Ghana — is not simply one of achievement, but one of purpose.

Dr. E. Faye Williams stands as a bridge between past and future — a woman of faith, wisdom, and action whose crown is not just of gold, but of grace.