Monica Lett

Dr. Monica Rhea Lett, née Tann, transitioned on Sunday, April 14, 2024. (1942 - 2024) She leaves behind two daughters, Michelle Lett Bryant, and Tracy Lett. Four grandchildren, Nickolas Bryant, Stefani Labruzzo, James Hill IV and Jacquelline Hill; as well as two great grandchildren, Mikayla Labruzzo and Kamyiah Pettie. Her first husband, Henry H. Lett Jr and her 2nd husband Larry Fields precede her in death. Her parents, Hensley Tann, Francis Baugh, Andrew and Rosa Lee Brown also precede her in death.

Monica Lett was a trailblazer in her time and carried on a tradition of education and excellence, being one of the first women of color to receive a Ph.D. in Housing and Community Development from Rutgers University. She felt that it was her obligation being a third-generation college graduate, a third-generation master’s and a second generation Doctorate.

Monica was fearlessly independent and self-sufficient; this is the one thing she desired and requested of her daughters. Monica lived a life of freedom, on her own terms and by her own rules. She denied conformity yet mastered the mask of it all the same. As she climbed the ladder of success, she moved as she was promoted through the ranks. She was raised in Indianapolis with her father Hensley Tann, M.D and Francis Baugh, until Hensley moved to Detroit. Monica then lived with her grandmother Tommie Knox Baugh Andrews; when she passed, Monica, a senior in high school, then resided with Doctor Reverend Andrew and Rosa Lee Brown whom loved her and her children as their own.

As a young adult Monica attended Central State University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in Mexico City. Monica went on to get a master’s in theology from Butler University, then a master’s and Ph.D. in Housing and Community Development from Rutgers University. During her educational pursuits she lived in Detroit, where she married and gave birth to her two daughters.

Monica lived in Newark, New Jersey while working at the World Trade Center and attending Rutgers. Her first position in Housing and Community Development was in Dallas Texas as Assistant Director of Housing for the city of Dallas. She then moved to New Orleans as Deputy Director of Housing under Mayor Earnest “Dutch” Morial who was the city’s first Mayor of Color during his term 1978 - 1986. She moved to Winston-Salem, and retired there, as the Director of Housing and Community Development, after 27 years. Monica was a tireless advocate and was awarded for her accomplishments in turning impoverished communities into thriving communities; this included providing people of lower social economic status the chance to own their first homes.

Because of her intellect and love of travel, Monica exposed her children to travel, museums and art experiences; including Broadway shows, annual vacations visiting 34 of the 50 states and Canada, cruises to the Caribbean Islands, Europe and Alaska. As an adult Monica traveled around the world and cruised extensively with Rosa Lee and Andrew; as well as with her children; these are among our fondest memories.

Monica enjoyed a rich social life as an active member of the Black Theatre Festival of Winston-Salem where she also served on its board. She was an avid bowler, fiercely competitive. She was an active member of the American Bridge Association, traveling annually to their national conferences to compete. Monica so loved art and music, in her later years she was a patron of the arts supporting the Ensemble Theatre of Houston and the Houston Symphony.

Monica had hardships in life and love as most have. However, she didn’t allow her valleys to outshine her mountain tops, instead she used them as lessons from which to learn, none more than learning to live a life of adventure, trail blazing, breaking social norms while flowing in the culture of old America. Monica walked with other trailblazing women who mentored, nurtured, and loved her such as Rosa Lee Brown of Indianapolis, Roberta “Bobbie” Pickett of Detroit, and Irma Gadson of Winston-Salem, who just recently preceded her in death.

Yes, the story of Monica Rhea Lett is unlike that of most mothers. We learned from many different women as young ladies; however, how to survive, how to thrive, how to learn to live with oneself, how to be financially efficient and successful, how to be a good and decent person, how to enjoy life, how to plan purposefully, how to give to others and walk and talk honestly and true with thyself we learned from Monica! This is the legacy that Monica Rhea Lett leaves her children and her children’s children!