Annie Monroe

Mrs. Annie Monroe, of Milledgeville, Georgia entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at Navicent Health Macon, Macon, Georgia.

Funeral services were held privately with the family.

Ruby Marie Phelps Lucky and Raleigh Lucky welcomed their first born, Annie Thelma Lucky on December 6, 1932 in Baldwin County, Milledgeville, Georgia. Annie Thelma joined the family with open hearts, hope, and love and later transitioned into a member of Trinity CME Church at an early age and became an active member. She offered her services via piano as a young girl playing for Sunday School and Sunday School Conventions and as an adult church services when needed. Annie Thelma attended the segregated Baldwin County public schools and was a member of the last class to graduate from the historical Eddie High School. After graduating high school she attended Paine College in Augusta Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Education and became a teacher in her hometown of Milledgeville, Georgia at Carver High School. During her teaching career she met her future husband, Semon Vaughn Monroe and married him on New Year's Day, 1954. While her husband was serving in the United States Army, Annie Thelma continued to take post-graduate education courses at Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia and became an English teacher at the new J. F. Boddie High School. She earned a Master of Education at Georgia College (now recognized as Georgia College and State University). Her advanced degree assisted in a change of schools. Annie Thelma's insatiable thirst for knowledge defined her as a trailblazer in the field of education and beyond. She was chosen as one of the first black teachers to assist in the peaceful transition of integration in the Baldwin County public schools. She was chosen to teach English Grammar and Literature to the then predominately all-white Baldwin High School. Annie Thelma's task was a daunting one, but with spiritual strength and the master of her knowledge of the English language, she earned the respect and esteem of her colleagues, parents and students who had never worked with a black teacher, encountered a black teacher, or had been taught by a black teacher. Annie was never afraid to question the appropriateness of literature which motivated her to choose alternate literature to ensure students were th th properly taught. Annie was the first black teacher to create her own black literature curriculum for 10 -12 grades. Her curriculum was approved by the principal and department head who recognized and embraced her innovative styles and execution of the literature making her classes popular with all students regardless of color. Annie Thelma's dedication and devotion were embraced by her peers and supervisors as she repeatedly received excellent scores for her periodic and annual instructional performances. Her knowledge of subject matter and lesson presentations defined the objectives required by learners and motivated excellent classroom management skills which led to her becoming the first black female assistant principal at Baldwin High School. Forever the trailblazer, Annie Thelma was rewarded again by securing a position at Georgia College. She was the first black instructor in the English Department. The remaining years at Georgia College, Annie Thelma was recruited by Georgia College's Special Studies Department as an English instructor. Her mission: to prepare students for the college entrance examinations for writing freshmen level essays, reading for critical thinking, and mastering higher level grammatical skills. Annie completed her teaching career at Georgia College which culminated 31-years of teaching and molding the minds of every person she touched. After retirement, Annie Thelma's trailblazing spirit and her thirst for teaching and knowledge never waned as she became the first black committee member on the Ina Dillard Library Board and continued to contribute to the school district as a substitute teacher. Outside of education and child rearing Annie Thelma enjoyed watching television. She was an avid fan of GPB (Georgia Public Broadcasting). She loved Masterpiece Theatre, The Classic Literature Stories brought to life by the actors who portrayed the protagonist and antagonists, the Mystery Shows, Great Performances, and Documentaries. She engaged in guilty pleasures such as watching her daily soap operas and later Univision telenovelas which her daughter introduced to her. She enjoyed her daughter translating the stories for her. Although Annie Thelma found teaching rewarding, her greatest rewards were her love for her family, especially her children and grandchildren whom she loved unconditionally. During her professional career Annie and Semon also welcomed two children, Angela, their first, and Michael, their second who followed in the footsteps and examples of two exemplary parents. She enjoyed taking care of her two older grandchildren, Victor and Yazmine and assisting in their homeschool lessons. She enjoyed traveling to the beach with them and took great joy watching them. Annie Thelma was blessed again with a third grandchild, a grandson, named Khalil. Zoom and FaceTime helped her bond and love him as much as her older grandchildren. On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, Annie Thelma was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Annie Thelma always shall be remembered as an exemplary and caring teacher, dutiful wife, loving mother and nana, devoted Christian, and loyal, loving friend. She was seen as a mother other than just her children. These children included: Ms. Victoria J. Jones, Dr. Collinda J. Lee, and Mr. Royce Boddie, Sr. Annie Thelma was preceded in death by her brothers Roland Lucky and John Melvin Lucky, infant grandson, Luis Miguel Mendoza, parents, Ruby and Raleigh Lucky, her sister Anita Johnson, and her husband, Semon Vaughn Monroe. She is survived by her loving and devoted daughter, Angela Valerie Monroe Mendoza, Milledgeville, GA, and son, Michael Vaughn Monroe (Alanna), Renton, WA; grandchildren, Victor M. Mendoza, Milledgeville, GA, Yazmine Monroe, Milledgeville, GA, Khalil Coyote-Monroe, Renton, WA; one brother, Clark D. Lucky, Evans, GA; nieces and nephews: Lauana Lucky, Jacksonville, FL, Micah Lucky (Katrina), Fort Mills, SC, Evita J. Willis (Chris), Milledgeville, GA, Curtis D. Lucky (Bonita), Minneapolis, MN, Trenissia Allison, Milledgeville, GA, Torrance Monroe, Marietta, GA, Vanessa Daniels Furlow, Americus, GA, Cynthia Daniels Hackett, Fredericksburg, VA, Dennis Monroe, Quitman, GA, Denise Monroe, Quitman, GA, Kelsie Daniels III (Regina), Atlanta, GA; great nephews and nieces: Brandon J. Johnson(Kimberly), Decatur, GA, Larry Furlow, Kelvin Furlow, and Cassie Furlow, Wilbur Hackett III (Melanie), Walter Hackett (Himot), William Hackett, Nakia Means (Andrew), and Kelsie Daniels IV; Devoted Best Friends; Mrs. June Morrow, Mrs. Anne Laura Zachary, and Mrs Georgette Harris; Devoted Family Friends: Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Griffin, Ms. Emily Davis and Mrs. Geneva Davis, Mrs. Rose Williams, and Mr. Clearthor McCormick. 

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