Phoenix's Thelda Williams through the years

Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson and Councilwoman Thelda Williams at the site of a new energy saving system at the Phoenix Police Department's North Command station at Third Street and Union Hills Drive on Aug. 1, 1990.

Inmate Dawn Curtis thanks Rick Rodriguez (third from right), Jan Gray (second from right) and George Downing (far right) for their participation in the jobs program for inmates during a news conference about the program that was held at Durago Jail on Oct. 19, 1999. At center right is Thelda Williams who is the Sheriff's Office Programs Division Commander. Sheriff Joe Arpaio stands next to Curtis at left.

Thelda Williams, the former mayor of Phoenix, listens to heartfelt speeches given by proud inmates during their graduation ceremony from the Alpha primary program at the Durango jail on May 21, 1999.

Thelda Williams speaks during a press conference outside City Hall in downtown Phoenix in 2000.

Thelda Williams in her office at Phoenix City Hall in 2007.

Thelda Williams looks over downtown Phoenix from her office on the 11th floor of City Hall in 2007.

District 1 City Council candidates Loralei Poll (from left), Stacey O'Connell, Jonathan Humphrey, and Thelda Williams debate in 2007.

Councilwoman Thelda Williams is sworn into office as her husband, Mel, holds The Bible on Jan. 2, 2008.

Newly elected council members Thelda Williams (from left), Maria Baier and Michael Nowakowski say the pledge during the inauguration at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix on Jan. 2, 2008.

Councilwoman Thelda Williams and Sheriff Joes Arpaio

Councilman Michael Johnson (from left), District 8, Councilman Sal DiCiccio, District 6, Councilman Tom Simplot, District 4, Councilwoman Thelda Williams, District 1, Councilwoman Peggy Neely, District 2, and Mayor Phil Gordon at the Inauguration Ceremony for the City Council Members at the City Hall Atrium in Phoenix on Jan. 4, 2010.

Phoenix Councilwoman Thelda Williams, left, discusses an initiative with Finance, Efficiency and Innovation subcommittee chairman Bill Gates that proposes outsourcing more municipal service jobs at a meeting Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at City Hall in Phoenix.

Thelda Williams has served on Phoenix's Aviation Advisory Board.

Phoenix City Councilwoman Thelda Williams, who represents District 1, holds the book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," by J.K. Rowling.

Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane talks with Phoenix Vice Mayor Thelda Williams at a P.F. Chang's Rock 'N' Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon event in Scottsdale on Jan. 13, 2011.

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and Vice Mayor Thelda Williams in the council chambers on March 2, 2011.

Phoenix Vice Mayor Thelda Williams, left, in 2011

District 1 Councilwoman Thelda Williams (right) and supporter Robin Mofford react as they watch election results come in from Williams' home on Aug. 30, 2011 in Phoenix.

Thelda Williams, running to represent District 1 on the Phoenix City Council, tracks the election results from her home in 2011.

Phoenix Vice Mayor Thelda Williams speaks with John Rogers, 76, of Phoenix, during the celebration of the new Happy Valley Park-and-Ride in Phoenix in 2011.

Phoenix City Coucilwoman Thelda Williams.

Phoenix District 8 Councilwoman Kate Gallego shakes hands with Phoenix Vice Mayor Bill Gates as Phoenix District 1 Councilwoman Thelda Williams looks on during the Inauguration Ceremony for Phoenix City Council Members at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix on Jan. 2, 2014.

Phoenix City Councilwoman Thelda Williams speaks in 2015 at Bayer Private School’s groundbreaking ceremony with Erwin and Tedii Freesmeyer, the founders of Rancho Solano school, seated.

Phoenix City Councilwoman Thelda Williams explains her vote Feb. 15, 2017, as the Phoenix City Council denied a citizen request to designate Phoenix a "sanctuary city.

Phoenix City Councilwoman Thelda Williams participates in a panel discussion and question-and-answer session at United Islamic Center of Arizona in Phoenix on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. The event was organized as an interfaith open house to educate the community about the Muslim faith.

Mayor Thelda Williams swears in interim councilwoman Vania Guevara, standing with her family, on Aug. 1, 2018.

Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams during a Phoenix City Council meeting in the Phoenix City Council Chambers on Sept. 19, 2018.

Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams and Cindy McCain helped open the John S. McCain III Terminal 3, South Concourse on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Phoenix Interim Mayor Thelda Williams laughs during a "topping off" ceremony for the completion of vertical construction of the nine-floor office and retail building at Block 23 on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, in Phoenix.

Phoenix Interim Mayor Thelda Williams speaks during a "topping off" ceremony for the completion of vertical construction of the nine-floor office and retail building at Block 23 on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, in Phoenix.

Greg Stanton and Thelda Williams shake hands at Stanton's resignation on May 29, 2018. Williams will serve as the interim mayor.

Greg Stanton and Thelda Williams talk at City Hall, when Williams became interim mayor upon Stanton's resignation in 2018.

Councilwoman Thelda Williams (right) talks with Phoenix aquatics supervisor Becky Hulett at Cortez Pool.