Monica Ann Lavallais was born November 2, 1957 in Houston, Texas to the late Leroy and Jonnie Mae Brown. She attended Houston Independent School District's Andrew Carnegie Elementary, Carter G. Woodson Jr. High, and Evan E. Worthing Sr. High School -graduating in 1976.

Monica had a love for food that led her culinary skills into the kitchen of the Galleria Omni and Crowne Plaza hotels. Her service skills also placed her in the security field where she was a security guard for Ben Taub, MD Anderson, and Methodist Hospital where she retired. Monica returned to the work force utilizing her service skills with her last place of employment at Home Instead, where she was a Home Health Aid.
Monica also had a great love for animals, especially her late cat Cadillia.

Monica was a member of Jordan Grove MBC under the leadership of the late Rev. W.H. Banks followed by the late Rev. Murphy Peterson, eventually moving her membership to Second Church of Christ Holiness USA under the leadership of the late Rev. Huey P. Augustine.
On Sunday March 16, 2025, Monica was called from Labor to Reward. She is preceded in death by her parents Leroy and Jonnie Mae Brown.
She leaves cherished memories with her children - Julia Thomas and Joshua Lavallais; grandchildren - Nia Thomas, Nicholas "Duce" Thomas Jr. and Jayce Crow; and godson Joshua Daniel Kennebrew.

She also leaves cherished memories with her siblings- Leroy "Sonny" Brown, Marilyn Gray (Ray), Richard Brown, Sherri Brown, Linda Toliver; and a host of nieces, nephews, coworkers, and friends.