Ethel Marie Montague

A memorial service for Ethel will be held Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 1:00 PM at McEwen Funeral Service-Derita Chapel, 6300 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte, NC 28262.

Virtual-Memorial Service will be available for viewing on Wilson’s Funeral Facebook page for live-streaming on February 28, 2023, at 1:00 pm. CLICK THE LINK for access:

https://www.facebook.com/McEwenDerita/

Or, services can be viewed on Wilson’s Funeral Website page by selecting Ethel’s obituary and clicking the tab to view.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wilsonfuneralservices.com for the Montague family.

THE JOURNEY OF ETHEL MARIE MONTAGUE

The late Ethel Marie Montague was born on Oct. 9, 1946, in Granville County, NC. Ethel was the daughter of the late Robert and Wille Lee Cozart Montague, granddaughter of the late Cleveland and Essie Boone Cozart, and great-granddaughter of the late George and Ella Webb Cozart. Ethel departed this life on earth on February 15, 2023.

EARLY DAYS

Ethel grew up on a farm in Oxford, NC, with eight siblings. All the children had chores and worked hard cultivating vegetables, tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane. She attended Shaw Elementary School and Shaw High School in Stovall, NC. After graduating high school, she relocated from her home state and continued her education in Philadelphia, PA., and Camden, NJ. Ethel pursued an education in the nursing field and became a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant).

MIDDLE YEARS

Ethel began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1983; she symbolized her dedication to Jehovah in 1985; In 1987, Ethel’s exemplary conduct and her active ministry qualified her for a larger share in the public ministry by becoming a regular pioneer, a full-time volunteer minister devoting 90 hours a month to the public preaching and teaching work. Her enthusiasm was infectious. She loved people and wanted to help them develop their spirituality by offering free home Bible studies.

MOTHERHOOD TIMES

A single mom, she loved educating herself and learning anything that would help improve the quality of her life and that of her son’s life.

Ethel provided a lovely home for her son, Troy. He shares his mom’s renowned laugh and charisma. Ethel’s joy was given to Troy as she invited cheerful family and friends to engulf her home often. His mother truly loved Troy. He learned hard work, truth, and compassion from her life.

Similarly, she made room in her home for her niece and nephew, Pebbles & Jeremy. She cared for them for an extended amount of time in support of her sister, Mary, and brother-in-law, Eddie. Ethel did all her mothering with joy.

MOTHERSHIP DAYS CONTINUES

She cared for children and was generous with the time she spent with them, and they loved Ethel. One day Ethel was leaving her babysitting job for the day when one of the two little boys hollered, “I love you, Ethel.”

She had a unique affinity for young people and teenagers. She was like a mother to several of them, and they loved her for opening a way for them to unpack their feeling by listening and trying to understand their respective issues.

A NEIGHBORLY HOSTESS

Known for her hospitality, Ethel would prepare meals and invite friends over for food and fellowship. She loved cooking and sharing meals with her friends, whether in Jersey, Kentucky, or Charlotte, NC. Her specialty, amidst other delights to the palate, was her famous collard greens and sweet potato pie. Oh, and another staple was pinto beans and

cornbread.

UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS: HER TRAVELS

Developing friendships were a large part of Ethel’s journeys, and traveling to new places was also an aspect she enjoyed. She traveled to Ocala, FL, Daytona Beach, FL, and NY. No matter where she was or traveled, she strived to return home to North Carolina and retire. Later, she had another journey to achieve and moved to Kentucky, where she made many friends. She eventually settled on to move from Kentucky to Charlotte, NC. Her leading goal was to move to Raleigh, NC.

BLOSSOMED & SUNSET

Living in Charlotte, NC, she felt closer to home. She was thriving in her community, and yet she still had the desire to travel closer to her birthplace but sought out a metropolis area of Raleigh. She visited Raleigh and believed she would be home at last.

During the planning, Ethel suffered a debilitating stroke that limited her movement and speech, and she remained in Charlotte. Nevertheless, she retained a sweet spirit and smiled when her friends and family visited her.

Her later life was a life of challenges, but she overcame them with patience, perseverance, and power, not her own.

BEYOND THE DISTANT HORIZON

She passes these precious memories to her son, sisters, brothers, in-laws, a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and caring friends. She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Robert and George Thomas. Rest in peace, Ethel. We love you and will miss you!