Nellie Monroe

NELLIE MONROE OBITUARY

Nellie Monroe was born June 28, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was blessed to have 92 and a half years on this earth. She was one of nine children, two were born stillborn, to the late Alavane Brown and Benjamin Brown. Nellie was a graduate of South Philadelphia High School. She was raised by a self-employed mother who was one of the first Black women to own a Black business on South Street called Roses Millenary for over forty years. Alavane raised her children up in the store with her teaching them the trade.

Nellie began writing at nine years old. Her passion for poetry was anointed from her budding relationship with God. Nellie attended a neighborhood church which helped her develop a strong Christian anchor. Nellie married Leroy Britt (deceased), a union from which three children were born: Dr. Darcel Britt-Still, precious daughter, Master Sgt. Leroy Britt (deceased) precious son and Toni Renee Britt, her youngest precious daughter. In 1989, Nellie married Walter Monroe or Mr. Walter, as he was affectionally called by the family.

They remained together until his passing in 2005.

It was upon her mother's passing that she opened her business, Nellies Flowers 'n Things, at the same location on South Street. She continued her business until 1980 when her daughter Darcel graduated from Dental School becoming one of the first Black women to have a private dental practice in Philadelphia. Nellie was the office manager at Dentille which started at 15th and Lombard and moved to the South Street location in 1985. Nellie was her office manager and bookkeeper for ten years. After Nellie moved on from Dentille, she held several other jobs to include: customer service representative, a telemarketing representative and as a customer service representative for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Nellie joined Williams Temple CME Church in 1953 and because of her poetry was asked to take part in mostly every program. She joined the Usher Board #2, the Missionaries, was the president of the Morning Glory Circle, a branch of the Missionaries, where she gathered children from four to seven, among them her own children..She was on the Stewardess Board in early years and later returned in 2003. She was also a member of the Vesper Choir. She also found great joy decorating the church with flowers and corsages for Women's Day. Nellie was employed by Flower World as a manager of their 9th and Chestnut Street and 30th and Market Street stores. Nellie later became a member of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church on March 18, 2012.

She published two books of poetry, My Master and I and His Promises and her work appeared in Pillar of Fire magazine. In 1964, Crisis magazine, out of New York, included her in their list of, "Great Black Authors of 1964." The other recipients included that same year were Dr. Martin Luther King and James Baldwin. She was invited to schools, churches (seated next to minsters) and radio programs. Nellie was featured on WHAT radio on their Songs of Faith program with Vera Gunn. Nellie had organ accompaniment for her poems on that program which were featured daily for a year. She was asked to preach a sermon at a

funeral where the minister failed to show. She received a crystal trophy from the World of Poetry television program where she previously received a silver and a golden certificate in 1990 and 1991.

Nellie is survived by her daughter Darcel (husband Ewell); daughter Toni; her grandsons David, Brian, Royse Sr. (wife Ashley) and Leroy (Lee Lee); her granddaughters Darla, Raquel (husband Maurice) and Lawren; her great grandsons Brandon, Tre, Trent, Royse Jr; her great granddaughter- Brielle and a whole host of beloved family and friends.

Sorrowfully submitted by her Family

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