Carla Kay Piper was born on October 18, 1965 in Dallas, Texas to the parents of Shirley Lajean Hawkins and Leroy Griffin Hawkins. She attended David W. Carter  High School.

She was preceded in death by her father Leroy Hawkins, one brother Steve Hawkins  and one son Ja'Ray Hollywood.

Carla leaves to Cherish her memories her husband Eugene Monroe; (3) Children: Dominque Hawkins, Maurice Piper and Sherice Piper; her grandchildren: Ashanti, Shakara, Shakira, Malik, Jamaurcus, Kamarya, Jamalya, Shariah and Ja'Ray Jr, her mother Shirley Hawkins; (2) brothers: Leroy Hawkins Jr. and Roderick Hawkins and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, her church family and many friends.