Mrs. Cora “Mae” Lucas Monroe was born October 9, 1926 in Boynton Beach, Florida to the Late Toney and Beatrice Jacobs Lucas. She was the oldest child born to this union.
At an early age Cora moved to Fort Pierce with her parents. She attended school in the St. Lucie County School system and was a graduate of the Lincoln Park Academy. She continued her education at Florida A & M University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Science. Cora also attended Tuskegee Institute, Howard University, Indiana University and Penn State University. She received her Master’s Degree in Education and Guidance at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.
Cora joined the church at an early age at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and served faithfully. She later joined her husband and was a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church and enjoyed assisting her husband with food for the church on special occasions from their restaurant, El Chico. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching Sunday School class under the leadership of Rev, Dr. H.D. Coleman, Pastor.
This inseparable couple served their community in many capacities and also owned and operated the first African American floral shop, “The Flower Patch” in Fort Pierce.
Cora’s affiliations, awards and recognitions were many. She served as President of Eta Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., President of the Fort Pierce Chapter of the Links, Inc., a member of the Library Advisory Board and Director of Club Utilatas Teen Center/Daycare and Tutoring Program.
In 1973 she was honored by the Florida Education Association and Club Utilatas for having received the highest honor in Human Relations Work in the State of Florida. In 1982 she received The League of Women Voters Service Award. Cora was voted the Democratic Woman of the year in 1999 and given the St. Lucie County Child/Advocate and Children Home Society and Stand for Children Award in 2000.
Cora’s thirty year teaching and counseling career began in Indian River County, where serving and “providing a chance” for students ignited her love and passion for future generations. She transferred to Saint Lucie County teaching Biology and sharing her love for science. In 1973 she became the Guidance Director of Fort Pierce Central and served until her retirement in 1980. She was dedicated to counseling youth. She worked tirelessly to ensure that students who met the entrance requirements received funding to go to college.
Upon her retirement from the St. Lucie County School system, she immediately began working in a counseling program for low socioeconomic and culturally deprived youth with tutorial programs as Director of Club Utilatas Teen Center/Daycare providing daycare and helping youth transition from high school to college.
On Sunday, February 2, 2020, Cora “Mae” Lucas Monroe transitioned quietly from this life to take her rest and be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her parents, Toney and Beatrice Lucas, her husband David Rudolph Monroe, brothers; Reverend Calvin Lucas and Isaiah “Ike” Lucas; and sister: Carrie Lucas Donaldson. Left to cherish her beautiful memories are: a loving and devoted son, David Wayne Monroe, Ft. Pierce, FL, granddaughter, Shardae Kia Tierre Monroe, Tampa, FL; brothers; Toney Lucas, Jr., Philadelphia, PA, and David Lucas, Sr., Fishkill, NY; sisters-in-law Helen Lucas and Rena Lucas, Ft. Pierce, FL a special niece, Karen Lucas Brown, Ft. Pierce, FL; a Goddaughter, Sia Walker, Godson, Donald Calhoun and a multitude of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Public visitation for Cora Lucas Monroe will take place on Friday, February 7, 2020 at Stone Brothers Funeral Home in Fort Pierce, FL from 3:00pm-6:00pm. A celebration of her life will convene on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, FL beginning at 11:00am. Burial will immediately follow in Riverview Memorial Park in Fort Pierce, FL.
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