Annie Lou Montgomery

Annie Lou Montgomery, 80, of East Orange, N.J., departed this life on September 6, 2008 at Friendship Retirement Community, after a prolonged illness. Annie was born on January 19, 1928 in Pulaski, Va., to a James McClanahan and Sarah Callaway. She was preceded in death by husband, John William Montgomery Sr., son, John William Montgomery Jr., daughter, Mary Sue Baldwin, three brothers, James McClanahan, Sr., Nick Conner, and Johnny Conner. She was always a hardworking woman and retired from the school system in New Jersey, before moving back to Christiansburg, Va. She was also a loving mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, and great-greatgrandmother! There were too many of us, but she always remembered how many she had. Even though she would always get our names mixed up, she would just laugh so hard and say, "So what you all look alike"! She loved to sing and dance and always had a beautiful smile on her face. She attended Gateway Baptist Church of Blacksburg, Va. and has a host of other relatives and friends. She leaves to cherish her memories, son, Kenneth James Montgomery; daughter, Betty (Jonathan) Walker of Montclair, Calif.; and five brothers, Sonny ( Theresa) Conner of Cleveland, Ohio, Willis ( Angie) Conner of Pulaski, Va., Harry Conner of Willing Borrow, N.J., Curtis ( Lilly) Conner of Gastonia, N.C., and Thomas ( Connie) Conner of Worchester, Mass.; eight sisters, Viola Francis of New York, N.Y., Charlotte Carrington of Roanoke, Va., Jackie ( Douglas) Pompay of Silver Spring, Md., Patsy Conner of Pulaski, Va., Angie and Melissa Turner of North Carolina; and three sisters-in-law, Gay McClanahan of Pulaski, Va., Eva Montgomery of Linden, N.J. and Alberta Williams of Newark, N.J.; a stepmother, Ethel Turner. Annie had 16 grandchildren; 28 greatgrandchildren; and five greatgreat-grandchildren. She will never be forgotten and will be deeply missed by all of her family and friends. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at Horne Funeral Service. A funeral service will follow in the Horne Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dewey Weaver officiating. Interment will follow in Montgomery Family Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent by visiting hornefuneralservice.com. The Montgomery Family is being served by Horne Funeral Service. (382-2612).