Services for Mrs. Odeal J. Montgomery, 92, of Ferriday, LA will be held Monday, August 25, 2014 at 10:30am from Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Ferriday. She will be interred at the National Cemetery in Natchez, MS beside her husband, Henry A. Montgomery. Dr. Eugene Williams will officiate.

Mrs. Montgomery, daughter of Rev. James Jordan, Sr. and Truelove Williams Jordan was born in Vidalia, LA and died at Natchez Regional Medical Center in Natchez, MS.

She was married to Henry A. Montgomery and to this union no children were born. She loved and helped so many children in her lifetime. She touched many lives through the schools, churches and the Henry A. Montgomery Foundation. And many of these children have gone on to become productive citizens throughout the country.

Mrs. Montgomery graduated from Sevier High School in Ferriday; earned her B. S. Degree from Grambling State University; a Master's Degree from Southern University; and plus 30 hours from various universities. She served as a classroom teacher, principal and supervisor for Concordia Parish School System during her educational
career. She was affiliated with numerous organizations, including the Henry A. Montgomery Foundation. She was honored by the Governor of Louisiana to serve on the Blue Ribbon Committee for Grambling State University.

In 1980 she was elected to the Ferriday Town Council where she served for 13 years and the last four years of her term, she served as Mayor Pro Tem. In 1996 she was elected as the first female Mayor of Ferriday. She served one term ending June 30, 2000.

She leaves to cherish her memories a host of nieces and nephews: Wanda Carter, Monica Carter, Shuntyal Carter, Ramon Carter, Trey'on Carter and Haley Carter all of Ferriday; Tommy Lloyd, III of Baton Rouge, LA; Shunda Young of Ruston, LA; Dr. Tiffany Lloyd Bullock of Dallas, TX; Dr Janice Sanchez , Deborah Pipkins, Henry Hines, III, Lionel Jordan all of New Orleans, LA; David, Jr. of Texarkana, AR; James Hines of Houston, TX.

Also Betty Miles of New York, Joyce Blache of Los Angeles, CA, Nichelle Payne and Nailah Payne of Natchez, MS; two sisters-in-law, Beatrice Jones of St. Francisville, LA and Gloria F. Lloyd of Ferriday.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, four sisters, five brothers and a nephew, Tommy Lloyd, Jr.