Paulette Williams was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1948. She was the eldest of four children born to Paul T. Williams and Eloise Williams. Her father, Paul Williams, was an Air Force surgeon and her mother was a psychiatric social worker and educator. She lived in a racially diverse neighborhood which included well educated upper middle class black and white families. As a child, she attended poetry readings with her younger sister, another playwright, Ifa Bayeza, which nurtured her curiosity and interest. At home, her family embraced the arts. They entertained black musicians in their home such as, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Chuck Berry. Her home life included exposure to the arts including music, dance, art, literature and opera.