A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR MR. ROBERT ALBERT MONTGOMERY May 30, 1934- July 21, 2008 Friday, July 25, 2008 12:00 Noon Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3301 Beatties Ford Road Charlotte, North Carolina 28216 Reverend Morris Reddon, Jr., Officiating Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church ORDER OF SERVICE Processional. ................. "Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen"....GreaterBethel A.M.E. Choir Omega Memorial Service 11:30 a.m. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Opening Hymn...................... "Great Is Thy Faithfullness"......................Choir and Congregation Invocation.......................................................................................... Reverend Barbara Crawford Choral Response ................................ "Thank You Jesus" ....................................................Choir Scriptures: 0 ld Testament New Testament Psalm 1: 1-6 I Thessalonians 4: 13 - 18 Reverend Thomas Clark Reverend Cleo Gaston Selection...................................... "Alleluia, We Adore You"................................................Choir Resolutions North Carolina Central University Alumni Association Robert Chiles Greater Bethel A.M.E. Matthew Holland, Steward Pro-Tern Prayer of Comfort Reflections (2 minutes) Mrs. Joyce Barnette, GBAMEC Class Leader Rev. Walter Funderburk, Wayside CME Church, Former Second Ward HS Football Player Dr. Rodgery McClain, Forner Second Ward High School Student. Mr. Charles Starnes, Highland High School Friend Mr. Charles Sanders, NCCU friend/Neighbor Duane Montgomery, Son Eric Montgomery, Son Maurice Montgomery, Son Obituary (Please read silently) Selection..................................... "The Lord's Prayer".....................................John E. Blakely, Sr. EULOGY........................................................................................Reverend Morris Reddon, Jr. Benediction........................................................................................Reverend Morris Reddon, Jr. Recessional .......................... "When We All Get to Heaven"...............................................Choir Interment Sunset Memorial Gardens 8901 Lawyers Road Charlotte, NC 28227 THE OBITUARY Robert Albert Montgomery was born May 30, 1934 in Gastonia, North Carolina to the late Frank Montgomery and Mamie Stowe Montgomery. After an extended illness, he went quietly and peacefully to be with the Lord on Monday, July 21, 2008, at home. He was predeceased by his parents, two sisters, Rosie and Gladys Montgomery, and two brothers, Clyde and Verlee Montgomery. He attended Gaston County schools and graduated from Highland High School in 1953. While a student at Highland, he excelled in several sports, lettering in baseball, basketball and football. In light of his athletic prowess, he was awarded a football scholarship to North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) in Durham, North Carolina. While at NCCU, he was an outstanding quarterback, punter and defensive back, excelling at all positions, nicknamed "The Triple Threat". During his helm, he quarterbacked three CIAA Championship Football Teams, earning All-CIAA his senior year. He led the conference in punting in 1954 and 1956. Montgomery was inducted into the NCCU Athletic Hall ofFame in 1984. After graduating from NCCU in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science Degree, he spent two years in the United States Army, from 1958 until 1960, where he was honorably discharged. In 1960-61, Montgomery served as the Assistant Football Coach at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina. He then matriculated to Charlotte, North Carolina where he became the Head Coach at Second Ward High School. Montgomery served in this capacity from 1961 until1969. His 1964 squad won the North Carolina State Football Championship. In 1965, he coached the victorious West squad in the East-West Shrine Game in Durham, North Carolina. Upon the closing of Second Ward, Montgomery taught Driver Education at West Mecklenburg, Garinger, West Charlotte and South Mecklenburg High Schools. In 1975, he received a Master of Science Degree in Safety & Driving Education from North CarolinaA& T State University. Football was always Montgomery's first passion, and through the years he was instrumental in assisting a number of quality athletes enter various colleges and universities. He retired from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System in 1992 with 31 years ofdedicated service. Al, as he was affectionately known by family and friends, is survived by his wife of 49 years, Betty Cooper Montgomery and his three sons, Maurice (Constance), Eric (Kim Sioux), and Duane. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Dominique, Brittany, Christian, Leah, Brandi, Donovan, Brock and Charli Ana Montgomery, and one great-grandchild, Leela Owens. In addition, he is survived by his brother Grady Montgomery (Trecolia) of Fort Washington, MD, and two sisters, Daisy Gordon of Gastonia, NC and Cora Lee Montgomery, ofNew York, NY, as well as a host ofnieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and dear friends. For forty years, Montgomery was a member of Greater Bethel AME Church, has been a member ofPi Phi Chapter ofthe Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. His hobbies included sports, singing, playing cards, listening to music and telling his family wonderful stories ofhis days at NCC. Montgomery was known to many by many different monikers: Coach, Monty, Money,Al, Bob, Big Pretty, and by his loving wife, Big Daddy. Robert, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend will be remembered as an amicable, loyal and generous individual who brought much love and wisdom to his family. He will always be our cherished missing link. "Coach" "Big Daddy" You Will Be Remembered You will be remembered when the flowers bloom in spring And in the summertime remembered In the fun that summer brings You will be remembered When fall brings leaves of gold In the wintertime, remembered, in the stories that are told And you will be remembered, each day right from the start For the memories that we once shared Forever live within my heart My Endless Love What Makes A Dad God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagles flight, The JOY of a morning in sprtng, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece complete, And so He Called it Dad My Three Sons Grandfather Thank you for showing , our family the value of unity and love for teaching us the beauty of our blackness and that with God on our side, we can do - and be- anything. Thank you for sharing your life lessons for passing on hope to each new generation and planting seeds of faith that have lasting roots. Thank you for being the kind of man who took pride in being a good father and grandfather and who did both with dignity, wisdom and grace. ''Family'' Families are the Roots of Life Hope is their Seed Fatth is their Rain Love is their Sun My Family FLORAL BEARERS The Haynes-Schofield Women's Missionary Society PALLBEARERS- Neph-ews Arthur Cook, IV Ronald Montgomery Gerald Montgomery Stanley Montgomery Jerry Montgomery Charles Spann, Jr USHERS Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church Usher Board The Broken Chain We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, In death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you. You did not go alone, for part of us went with you the day God called you home. You left us peaceful memories. Your love is still our guide. And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side. Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same, but as God calls us one by one, the Chain will link again. Acknowledgment The Family acknowledges, with grateful appreciation the many acts ofkindness and sympathy during our hours of bereavement. We will forever remember each expression oflove. GRIER FUNERAL SERVICE -Since 1930"Serving The Family With Dignity and Personal Understanding" 115 John McCarroll Avenue Charlotte, North Carolina 28216 Phone: 704-332-7109 -Fax: 704-332-5273