Gerald Sylvester Montgomery

Gerald Sylvester Montgomery, “Paw-Paw”, A native of Claiborne County, Mississippi, born in Pattison, and longtime resident of Baton Rouge, Gerald was born November 22, 1928 and passed away at home with family at his bedside on November 12, 2024. He was preceded in death by parents, Myrtie E. Roan and Malcolm Montgomery, Sr., brother, Malcolm, Jr., wife, Mary Elise Anderson, daughter, Jerilyn Woodson and son-in-law, Raymond Woodson, Jr. Often asked, “How did you wind up in Louisiana?”, he would respond, “I met a girl and never went back to Mississippi.”

He was an outstanding student and athlete at Port Gibson High School and voted “Mr. Port Gibson High” for the class of ’47. Though offered a baseball scholarship to North Carolina, he elected to attend LSU in order to be closer to home and family. He graduated from LSU, majoring in accounting. His time at LSU was interrupted when he volunteered for the Air Force in 1950 during the Korean War. He was a Staff Sgt. at SAC AFB in Mt. Home, Idaho. Upon returning home and completing college in 1956, he used his degree in accounting, working as an internal auditor, rising to the position of branch manager with the U. S. Dept of Health, Education and Welfare. He retired from the U.S. Dept of Education following more than thirty years of service which included citations and recognitions for exemplary work.

He was a member of Florida Boulevard Baptist Church where he served as church treasurer for forty years. In addition to serving as a deacon and on the board of trustees, he served as an officer in senior adult groups assisting in planning travel itineraries and chauffeuring Senior Adult trips in conjunction with Bible study conferences around the United States. He and his wife enjoyed cooking for the group meetings as well.

He was a long-time volunteer with the Istrouma Area Council with Boy Scout Troop 478 and Cub Scout Pack 707. He was a troop committee member, merit badge counselor and drove on numerous out-of-state camping adventures. He enjoyed taking the family on great vacations, traveling to National Parks and camping throughout the United States. He was an avid LSU sports fan holding season football tickets for over 40 years and following the team to many bowl games. As a young man he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He found great satisfaction in helping others. He enjoyed watching westerns, working with plants and loved dogs. Most of all, he loved the Lord and was devoted to his wife and family. He was a man of high integrity and trust. He could be depended on by anyone for assistance in any time of need.

He is survived by sons, Malcolm Louis Montgomery and partner, Ramsey Michael, of New Orleans and Gary Stephen Montgomery and wife, Carole Baum Montgomery, of Baton Rouge; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren: Mary Elizabeth Woodson and partner, Mark von Schlemmer of Kansas: Gerald Stephen Montgomery and wife, Alia, of North Carolina and daughter, Madeline Elise; Olivia Elise Montgomery and husband, Zach Wigger, of Mississippi; Jacob Berry and wife, Stephanie, and children, Scott, Gavin and Lily of Virginia; Robert Lockwood and children, Cannon and Lydia, of Central; Brittany Lockwood and husband, Ethan Anderson, of Florida; Joseph Lockwood of Baton Rouge; and Samuel Lockwood and wife, Brittany, and daughter Amelia of Denham Springs; many nieces and nephews; and friend, Tiny DeMoss.

Special thank you to Samantha Sumerlin of Always Best Care for providing care assistance and the team from Baton Rouge Hospice for enabling him to spend his final days comfortably at home.

Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are “the boys,” Will Payne, Lawton Warner, and Jacob Lewis. Services to be conducted by Rev. Joey Beason at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. Visitation is at 10:00 a.m. with the service at noon. Burial will follow at Redwood Cemetery in Slaughter, LA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, Louisiana Center for the Blind—Summer Braille Program, or the Parkinson’s Foundation.