James Hargrove “Sonny” MONTGOMERY, Jr.

1924 - 2020  (96 years)

• Name	James Hargrove “Sonny” MONTGOMERY  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
  Suffix	Jr.
  Birth	2 Mar 1924	Rock Hill, York County, South Carolina
  Gender	Male
  HIST	of Sumter, South Carolina of Irmo, South Carolina JAMES H. MONTGOMERY JR. Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2020 6:00 am IRMO - James Hargrove "Sonny" Montgomery Jr., 96, died peacefully on Saturday, July 4, 2020, at his home in Irmo. Mr. Montgomery was born on March 2, 1924, in Rock Hill, to the late James Hargrove Montgomery Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Poag Montgomery. He graduated from Edmunds High School in 1942 and from Clemson College with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture-Agronomy in 1949. His college education was interrupted in December of 1942 due to World War II, during which he served in the U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division, Glider Regiment, until December of 1945. Sonny entered combat under fire, flying into Holland with his unit in the back of a glider, and fought his way through Europe, until he was wounded in action at The Battle of the Bulge. During his military service, he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. After graduating from Clemson, Mr. Montgomery joined his father in 1949 with their family's 1,300-acre farming operation in Gable. At that time, tobacco was their main crop, along with corn, cotton, watermelons and soybeans. Later in life, he began a second career at the South Carolina Employment Security Commission. Mr. Montgomery was an outstanding citizen who served on many state, county and local organizations. He served on the S.C. Farm Bureau Board of Directors as state director, on the Farm Bureau Tobacco Committee and on the S.C. Pesticide Commission. Sonny also served on the board of trustees for both Sumter School District 2 and Thomas Sumter Academy. He was a founding member of the L. Arthur O'Neil Educational Fund. He was both trustee and treasurer for Rembert's Church Cemetery Association and president of the Men of the Church, Harmony Presbytery. Sonny was commander of American Legion Post 15 in Sumter. Mr. Montgomery was a lifelong member of Concord Presbyterian Church where, along with enjoying singing in the choir, he served in various positions through the years to include treasurer, deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher. Sonny had a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Sonny loved quail hunting, training bird dogs, Clemson football, Yankees baseball, walking, swimming and God's animals. He mostly loved spending time with family, especially the love of his life, Agnes. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Nevada Stultz Follin, Mary Reid Newton and Margaret Elizabeth Montgomery. He is survived by his wife, Agnes Montgomery in Irmo; five children, Catherine Rebecca Rausch and her former husband, Dr. Jeffrey Lynn Rausch, Agnes Montgomery Elliott and her husband, Wayne Vivian Elliott III, James Hargrove Montgomery III and his wife, Raury Blackmon Montgomery, Tracy Montgomery Rush and her husband, Joel Craig Rush, Mary Margaret Montgomery and her wife, Nancy Jane Muntner; 11 grandchildren, Dr. Jeffrey David Rausch and his wife, Jeanne, Caroline Rebecca Albanese and her husband, Zach, Lauren Rausch Langford and her husband, Robert, James Hargrove Montgomery IV and his wife, Stacy, Joshua Patrick Montgomery, Jordan Blackmon Montgomery, Wayne Vivian Elliott IV, Mary Elliott Oxley and her husband, Cole, Elizabeth Montgomery Rush, David Heriot Rush and Jonathan Talbert Rush; nine great-grandchildren, Jaeger Rausch, Laurel Rausch, Curt Rausch, Oliver Albanese, Hazel Albanese, Theodore Albanese, Camille Albanese, Molly Montgomery and Riviera Langford; and numerous nieces and nephews. There will be a graveside service at 11 a.m. Thursday at Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family requests that everyone strictly adhere to social distancing protocol, observing the six foot rule and the wearing of masks (if able). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Legion Post 15, 34 S. Artillery Drive, Sumter, SC 29150 and Concord Presbyterian Church, 3350 E. Brewington Road, Sumter, SC 29153. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.  [4, 5, 6, 8, 9]
  MILI	His college education was interrupted in December of 1942 due to World War II, during which he served in the U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division, Glider Regiment, until December of 1945. Sonny entered combat under fire, flying into Holland with his unit in the back of a glider, and fought his way through Europe, until he was wounded in action at The Battle of the Bulge. During his military service, he was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.  [9]
  _UID	9F672E76EEB54EB180F6336F5C06FDF3B635
  Death	4 Jul 2020	at his home in Irmo, South Carolina
  Burial	9 Jul 2020	Concord Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 3350 E. Brewington Road, Sumter County, South Carolina   [9]
  	Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home & Crematorium, Sumter, South Carolina
  Person ID	I74840	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	7 Jul 2020

  
  

  Father	James Hargrove MONTGOMERY, Sr.   d. Bef 6 Mar 2008
  Mother	Mary Elizabeth POAG   d. Bef 6 Mar 2008
  _UID	4A98B04F89174E2895F264532B77B171F929
  _UID	4A98B04F89174E2895F264532B77B171F929
  Family ID	F59444	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Children	1. Living   2. Catherine Rebecca MONTGOMERY   3. Agnes MONTGOMERY   4. Tracy MONTGOMERY   5. Mary Margaret MONTGOMERY
  Family ID	F51997	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 Jul 2020

  
  

• Sources

  [S1302] La Roche Heriot IV. [S353] Lynda Louise Heriot, page 30. [S1899] page 11. [S10157] Nevada M. Follin. [S15359] McDuffie-Montgomery. [S16131] Mary Newton. [S16625] Henrietta Heriot Clark. [S16836] Margaret Montgomery. [S27821] James H. Montgomery Jr.