My birth name is Williebelle Moss. I was named after my mother’s youngest sister (Willie Pearl) and my mother’s mother, my grandmother (Lillie Belle). I received my nickname and my current signature name from a friend in 1950 and it has stuck throughout my life. I was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1932 and lived there until my first marriage in 1951. I moved to Tacoma in 1951 as the result of my then husband being called up for the Korean conflict. I am the mother of two sons (Dean & Michael) and one daughter (Terri Catherine) deceased; five grandsons and more than ten great grandchildren.
I have always been interested in acquiring as much education as I could. I love to read and am particularly a lover of poetry and dance history. I am a graduate of Tacoma Community College and the University of Puget Sound, from which I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Public Administration.
I have spent most of my adult work and home life involved in social and community services, from the parent/teacher association to the city council of Tacoma to the Assistant to the Pierce County Executive. Prior to my term on the Tacoma City Council, I served ten years as a member of the Tacoma Public Utilities Board. Nationally, I have participated as a member of the National League of Cities and the league’s leadership Training Institute. I served as the first executive director of Planned Parenthood of Pierce County and was the first female manager of the Group Health Clinic at Federal Way. I was also the first president of the Tacoma Urban League Guild.
My passion for responsive, transparent and representative government; my work ethic and my commitment and experience on community issues brings me much pleasure and a high sense of accomplishment.
