Elizabeth Cloud Monroe helped hundreds of children navigate the challenges of their young lives in her career as a school social worker. Before her death in November 2017, she extended this legacy of caring with a bequest of nearly $280,000 to the University of North Carolina School of Social Work, helping thousands of students, as well as the children and adults those students will serve throughout their own careers.
Monroe grew up in Winston-Salem and explored several career paths before finding her calling in social work. She earned a degree in art history, worked as a fashion buyer in New York City, studied computer programming and traveled around the world (China became a favorite destination) before enrolling at UNC School of Social Work, where she completed her Master of Social Work degree in 1991.
Family members say that Monroe’s degree in social work opened her eyes and heart to serving youth. After graduation, she worked as a clinical child therapist on the trauma team at CenterPoint Human Services, which provides treatment for persons with developmental disabilities, mental health disorders or substance abuse challenges in Winston-Salem and surrounding counties.
Monroe continued her career in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System, where she was assigned to Parkland High School and North Forsyth High School. She worked as a school social worker for 25 years. She also helped support the St. Joseph’s Indian School in South Dakota, which provides residential and educational services for Lakota Sioux children and youth in need.
Her generous spirit was reflected in her support of her church and of performing arts organizations in her community as well as in her lifelong commitment to social work.
She is survived by her brothers, Thomas Guy Monroe of Alaska and John Monroe Jr. of California. She was the daughter of John H. and Elizabeth “Boo” Monroe.
