Rev. James Alexander Montgomery, Jr

Beloved husband, father, brother, friend, and priest ... The Rev James Alexander Montgomery, Jr., Kingsport, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday August 8, 2009 following a short illness.

James was born on March 9, 1921, in Rye Cove, VA. He was the son of the late James Alexander Montgomery and Julia Vicars Montgomery.

James graduated salutatorian from Sullivan County High School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a medic while stationed in England. He met and married the love of his life, Esme Joyce Shattock Montgomery while stationed in England. Upon his return from service, he and Esme settled in Kingsport, TN. James worked at Tennessee Eastman Company, retiring in 1983 after 42 years of service.

James was a past member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. In 1960, with the encouragement of the Rev. Leicester F. Kent, James and Esme left St. Paul's to help found the mission church, St. Timothy's in Kingsport. He served on the vestry at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. He later studied to be a lay reader, chalice bearer, deacon, and a priest at the University of South at Sewanee.

The couple continued as active members of St. Timothy's until James was ordained as a priest in 1980. James then served as an itinerant Anglican priest for churches in Knoxville, Kingsport, Abingdon, and Southwest Virginia. Most recently, James had served as a priest of St. Andrew's Anglican Church of Kingsport.

James is the past president of the Kingsport Optimist Club, a long-time member of the Rotary Club; a lifetime learner; and a kind and gracious man who always had an ear to listen, a smile to encourage, a sense of humor, and a laugh to share.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Esme; his parents; two sisters, Ruby Steadman and Mary Wright; and two brothers, William E. Montgomery and Dr. Robert Henry Montgomery.

Surviving are his daughter, Janice Montgomery Bull and husband, Dr. Geoffrey L. Bull, of Beaver, PA; son, James H. Montgomery and his wife, Dawn, of Atlanta, GA; three grandsons, David Montgomery Bull, Beaver, PA, Daniel Michael Bull and wife, Nicole and daughter Isabella, of Cannonsburg, PA, and James Christopher Alexander Montgomery, Atlanta, GA; granddaughters, Katherine Marie Bull, Beaver, PA, Michelle Paulin, Ocala, FL; three great-granddaughters; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday at First Broad Street United Methodist Church Chapel with The Rt. Reverend William W. Millsaps and The Reverend Ralph Smith officiating. Burial will be at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Bishop's Fund; PO Box 157; Monteagle, TN 37356, The Exchange Place; 4812 Orebank Road; Kingsport, TN 37664, or St. Andrew's Anglican Church; 4501 Chickasaw Road; Kingsport, TN 37664.