CHARLIE MONTGOMERY, 88, COLORED PREACHER, DIES


THOMASVILLE -- (Special) -- The Rev. Charlie Montgomery, retired colored minister, died here after a lingering illness.

The Rev. Montgomery was born in slavery on Jan. 9, 1860, in Monroe County near where Beatrice now is located. He was educated at Selma University and said to be the first colored teacher in Monroe County. Montgomery moved to Thomasville in 1896. He was an important factor in building the C.M.E. High School here, having hauled the first lumber to go into the building. He had served many churches and for a number of years served as presiding elder.


SOURCE: The Mobile (Alabama) Register - March 26, 1948. (The article was copied from microfilm on file at the Alabama State Archives, Montgomery, Alabama.)


NOTE: The 1880 census listed Charles Montgomery as teaching school in Monroe County. Selma University was founded in 1878, and he was one of the first students to attend the school. Thomasville is in Clarke County.

Rev. Montgomery, my grandfather's brother, was the second oldest child of my great grandparents, Jerry and Emma Montgomery.

See 1880 census data at:

http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/80_cm.htm

See web page, "The Montgomerys of Monroe County, Alabama" (under development) at:

http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/monroe.htm

Bennie J. McRae, Jr.
LEST WE FORGET Web Site

http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/default.htm


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