Rest in Power: Julie Saunders Monroe (obituary)

Julie Saunders Monroe CHARLESTON – On April 11th, longtime NJ resident, Julie Gaetatina Saunders Monroe, died in Charleston, SC following a long illness. Born in Newark to Louise Gaetatina (Gaetty) and Carter Morton Saunders, Julie graduated from West Side High School in 1964. She attended Mount Holyoke College and New York University before receiving a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from Rutgers University in 1997. Coming of age at the height of the Civil Rights Movement fueled her passion for promoting justice in American life. Politically astute, Julie was a community advocate and activist. In her early career, she worked at NAPA (Newark Area Planning Association) which fought Negro removal and assured the development of low-income housing. She helped organize the Black and Puerto Rican Political Convention which promoted the election of Newark’s first Black mayor, Kenneth Gibson. Julie held major management positions at Bloomingdale’s Import Office and Alcatel-Lucent’s corporate accounting division in 2013. In January 1990, Julie married Frank F. Monroe, Jr. Although she lost Frank in 2010, they spent 20 marvelous years together, traveling and enjoying their many friends while actively engaged in the community service work of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Following her retirement Julie relocated to Charleston, SC, where she continued her community advocacy. She was active in ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History). Mrs. Monroe was serving as its president at the time of her illness. Julie is survived by her sister, Constance Saunders; niece, Alexis Hilton; step-daughters, Linda Mallory and Sherry Monroe; grandchildren, Miles and Madison Mallory along with numerous cousins and lifelong friends. A memorial service will be announced. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston

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Published by Charleston Post & Courier from Apr. 21 to Apr. 22, 2021.