Lady Monica was born in Chicago, Illinois where she attended public and private schools through the eighth grade. After relocating to Detroit, Michigan, she completed high school in the Detroit Public School system. She later received her Bachelor of Arts in African Studies: Public Policy, from Wayne State University. She also received a Grant Writing Certification through Marygrove College.
She has been an active member of Fellowship Chapel for more than 30 years serving in various roles and leading several ministries. Her heart, though, is found in the choirs that she sings with. She also enjoys sharing in the knowledge and understanding of the Word through her weekly Bible study class, The Word Network.
In addition to her faith-based activism, she is socially committed as well having served on the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee Executive Board, Detroit Public Schools L.S.C.O., UNCF Fashion Fair Committee, and as a Precinct Delegate. She has worked on various campaigns and committees. She is a member of the Detroit Branch NAACP (former WIN Chair) and mentors with the Intonjane Training Instituter Rites of Passage mentoring program for young girls ages 6-17. In 2008, she started the Lady Monica Life of Excellence Scholarship, awarding two $1000 scholarships, annually, to college bound or currently enrolled youth.
Professionally she has served in many capacities as an Executive Assistant with Fellowship Chapel, Neighborhood Services Organization and Data Consulting Group; Field Director, ACLU of Michigan, and as Director of Acquisitions for the Velmeir Companies. In 2002, she stepped out on faith and started her own company, Gian-Chris Inc. working on several commercial real-estate projects throughout the City of Detroit and throughout Metro Detroit, with CVS/Pharmacy, CAPROC Pension Advisors and others. Additionally, through Gian Chris Inc. she has done government and community relations projects and most recently became a Sales Partner for Traci Lynn Fashion Jewelry. Her pop-up Lady MgAnthony’s Boutique sells high-quality women’s fashion jewelry and accessories.
Currently, she is the Director of the Freedom Institute for Economic, Social Justice, and People Empowerment and the James E. Wadsworth, Jr. Community Center, the community outreach arm of Fellowship Chapel. Under her leadership both organizations have grown programmatically and expanded their scope of services and outreach.
In 2005, she married Rev. Wendell Anthony and became First Lady of Fellowship Chapel. She is the proud mother of Wendelaya and Theresa and the best MiMi to Christopher and Kali.