Sunday Conversation Chief Deputy Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick: 'Know Your Assignment, Then Do the Work.'

From Elizabeth Canty Homes to making history as the first female Chief Deputy of the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office.

History is often made quietly.

There are no fireworks. No marching bands. Just years of sacrifice, determination, setbacks, prayer and perseverance that eventually lead to a moment generations will remember.

For Chief Deputy Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick, that moment arrived when she raised her right hand and became the first woman in the history of the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office to serve as Chief Deputy, second-in-command to Sheriff Greg Countryman.

But for Dent-Fitzpatrick, the title is less about making history than honoring those who helped make her journey possible.

Raised in Columbus' Elizabeth Canty Homes, denied a job with the Columbus Police Department on her first attempt, beginning her career across the river with the Phenix City Police Department before finally joining Columbus Police in 1987, she has spent nearly four decades proving that setbacks don't determine your destiny.

Today, she hopes her story inspires the next generation to believe that no dream is too large and no obstacle too great.

Courier: Becoming the first female Chief Deputy is a historic accomplishment. What went through your mind during the swearing-in ceremony?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: It was humbling. I wasn't thinking about titles. I was thinking about all of the people who sacrificed so I could stand there. I thought about my parents, my grandparents, my family, my mentors and everyone who believed in me. Sheriff Countryman reminded us that my husband had been the first Black Chief Deputy. Then he said, "Now you're going to be the first female." That really hit me. When I told my husband, he said, "Wow... I never even thought about that." History has a way of connecting generations

Courier: Your husband once served in the very position you now hold. What advice did he give you?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: (Laughing) It was very simple. He said, "Be careful... and do your job." That's really all you need. Stay focused. Serve with integrity. Do the work.

Courier: You grew up in Elizabeth Canty Homes. Looking back, did you ever imagine this day?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: Absolutely not. I was simply trying to survive life. I was a young single mother going through a divorce while attending college. I didn't have everything figured out. But I had determination. Sometimes God allows your circumstances to build the character you'll need later.

Courier: Many people don't realize Columbus Police actually turned you down the first time you applied.

Dent-Fitzpatrick: That's right. I applied in 1983 or 1984 and was denied. That could have discouraged me. Instead, I went to the Phenix City Police Department, and they gave me an opportunity. When I applied again in 1987, I was more mature, more determined and more focused. Sometimes a "no" is simply God preparing you for a better "yes."

Courier: What would you tell someone who's dealing with rejection today?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: Don't stop. Rejection isn't always denial. Sometimes it's preparation. If one door closes, keep improving yourself until another one opens. Never let someone else's opinion determine your future.

Courier: You eventually became the highest-ranking Black woman in the history of the Columbus Police Department before now making history again. What was that journey like?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: It wasn't easy. Law enforcement has traditionally been a male-dominated profession. There were challenges. There were days I questioned myself. But I also knew my assignment. My family raised me to work hard, stay humble and never let obstacles stop me. That's what kept me going.

Courier: You often talk about "assignment." What does that word mean to you?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: I believe God gives every one of us an assignment. Mine has always been service. It's never been about chasing titles. If you focus on doing your assignment well, the promotions will take care of themselves.

Courier: Your family has clearly had a tremendous influence on your life.

Dent-Fitzpatrick: Absolutely. My great-grandmother... My grandmother... My mother and father... They sacrificed so much. Many of them worked jobs people overlooked—maids, custodians, washers—but they valued education. They made sure I had opportunities they never had. Everything I've accomplished stands on their shoulders.

Courier: Throughout your career, who were some of the women who helped shape your leadership?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: Captain Consuela Askew has always encouraged me. Assistant Chief Debra Kennedy was my sergeant in Sex Crimes, and we've remained close friends through the years. Major Barker Wright also poured into me. Strong women don't compete with each other. They encourage each other. That's something I'll always believe.

Courier: One person who remains close to your heart is Officer Shirley B. Winston.

Dent-Fitzpatrick: Shirley was my best friend. She was killed in the line of duty on December 31, 1990. I keep her picture in my office. Sometimes I can almost imagine her standing over in the corner laughing and cutting up like she always did. She would be proud—not because of a title—but because God has been faithful. Helping have a park named in her honor was important to me because heroes should never be forgotten.

Courier: You've said the atmosphere at the Sheriff's Office has been different. Explain what you mean.

Dent-Fitzpatrick: I have genuinely felt welcomed. From the people preparing meals... To the deputies... To the detention officers... To the inmates... Everyone has made me feel included. I hadn't felt that level of inclusion in a long time. It has truly been a blessing.

Courier: As a trailblazer, what responsibility comes with being the first?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: Being first should never mean being the last. Somebody will sit in this chair after me. My responsibility is to make sure I help prepare them. I don't want them to fail. Leadership isn't about keeping the door closed behind you. It's about holding it open for somebody else.

Courier: You often mention Josephine McClenney when discussing trailblazers. Why?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: Because she paved the way. She became the first Black woman to retire from the Columbus Police Department with full benefits. People don't realize how significant that was. She endured the struggle. She finished the race. We stand where we are because someone before us refused to quit.

Courier: What are your priorities as Chief Deputy?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: Serving our community with professionalism. Supporting Sheriff Countryman's vision. Continuing the conversations around mental health. Strengthening our response to domestic violence. Building trust. At the end of the day, law enforcement is about serving people.

Courier: After nearly four decades in law enforcement, what keeps you motivated?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: The people. Every day is another opportunity to make a difference. If one family feels safer... If one young person believes they can accomplish something because they saw me... Then the work has been worth it.

Courier: Finally, what do you hope young girls—and especially young Black girls—take away from your story?

Dent-Fitzpatrick: Don't let anyone define your limits. You may come from humble beginnings. You may hear "no." You may face obstacles because you're a woman. You may face obstacles because of the color of your skin. But if you stay focused, work hard, trust God and remain committed to your assignment, there's no telling where He can take you. Never stop believing in what He has placed inside of you.

From the Publisher's Desk Chief Deputy Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick's story is about far more than becoming the first woman to hold a title. It is a reminder that history isn't created overnight. It is built over decades—through rejection that becomes resilience, sacrifice that becomes strength, and faith that becomes purpose.

From the streets surrounding Elizabeth Canty Homes to the executive offices of the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, her journey reminds us that your beginning does not determine your ending. Sometimes the greatest victories belong to those who simply refused to quit. And perhaps the greatest lesson of all is the one she repeated throughout our conversation: Know your assignment. Then do the work.