Rev. Harold L. Montgomery

Reverend Harold Logan Montgomery passed away Wednesday morning, May 8, 2024, at the Tennessee State Veteran’s Home in Humboldt, TN surrounded by family and loved ones.

Harold was born April 16, 1931, in Pulaski, Tennessee to the late Logan H. Montgomery and Venitia Etheridge Montgomery. He graduated from Giles County High School in 1948 and spent the next four years in the United States Air Force.  He was stationed in the U.S.A, Germany and England attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. After completing his military service, Harold resumed his education with degrees from Martin College, Lambuth College and Vanderbilt University where he earned his Master of Divinity.

Ordained as a Methodist minister (later United Methodist) in 1960, Harold served churches at the Adamsville Circuit (1956), the Hollow Rock Circuit (1957), Oakfield/ Mount Carmel in Madison County, (1960), Mount Pleasant in Arp, Tennessee/New Hope in Central, Tennessee (1964), Providence UMC in Madison County (1966), Burnett’s Chapel in Somerset, Kentucky (1969), Enville Circuit (1970) and Big Springs UMC in Madison County/Montezuma UMC in Chester County (1983). After retirement he served as interim pastor at Browns UMC (2004).

While still serving churches, in 1970 Harold began a full-time ministry to persons addicted to alcohol and other drugs at Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (JACOA). He led JACOA through the development of the 30-day in-patient treatment program which is still changing lives today. In 1995, the Montgomery Hall Addiction Center was named in honor of Reverend Harold L. Montgomery “for his compassion for the suffering and his commitment to the recovering.” He retired from JACOA in 2000 after 30 years of service as Executive Director. Harold was also a long-time member of The Jackson Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow.

Harold was joined in marriage in 1955 to Rebecca Ann Moore. To this union were born Michael David (Anita), Joseph Harold, Thomas Mark, Phillip Logan, Daniel Andrew (Susan) and Ruth Miriam.  After almost fifty years of marriage Rebecca passed away after a long illness. Harold was blessed to share the last eighteen years of his life with his wife and best friend, Linda Sigler Hopper Montgomery. Harold had previously provided comfort to the Hopper family during the loss of their beloved Michael and now his family grew with the addition of daughter Julie Hopper Clarke (George) and son David Hopper.  In addition to his wife and children, Harold is survived by grandchildren Caleb, Rachel, Izzy, Jasmine, Chelsea, and Dylan and also his childhood and life-long friends Wayne Smith and Joe Oliver.

As a member of “The Greatest Generation,” Harold grew up in a time when young men were charged with many expectations from family, country, and society. He met and exceeded those expectations with consistency, grace, and dignity. As a youth, he met his obligations on the family farm where hard work was expected, while also excelling in high school where he was nominated to attend Boys State, one of the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.  During military service Harold excelled in his work as an airplane mechanic where he participated in the Berlin Air Lifts and later was chosen and trained to be a collector and interpreter of weather data, which sparked a lifelong interest in weather observations. Harold was filled with warmth, compassion, acceptance, and a wit that drew others to him and inspired lifelong friendships. He diligently kept in touch with childhood friends through weekly phone calls to them his entire life.

While meeting other’s expectations was important, more important to Harold were the higher expectations that he placed upon himself. During the turbulent 1960’s he began working as a champion for social justice.  Harold had the ability to comfortably work with people from all walks of life and used that gift to provide hope and help to many individuals. Described as a “gentle giant,” Harold was a humble man who placed the needs of others first. More than once he was approached by someone who told him, “You saved my life!” Harold’s response was always, “I didn’t save your life, I helped you to find the path to recovery that allowed you to save your life.” Harold’s life of service is best described by the verse Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”   

SERVICES:  A service to celebrate Rev. Montgomery’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2024, at Forest Heights United Methodist Church with Rev. Drew Brewer officiating.  Burial will follow with military honors at Highland Memorial Gardens.

The family will be receiving friends prior to the service in Fellowship Hall at Forest Heights United Methodist Church beginning at 1:00 p.m. and continuing until the service time.

Harold’s family will always remember and cherish him for his great stories, humorous wit, wisdom, guidance, encouragement, and unconditional love.

Memorials may be sent to Forest Heights United Methodist Church, 863 West Forest Avenue, Jackson TN, 38301 or JACOA, 900 East Chester Street, Jackson TN, 38301.