Ray Montgomery

1935 - 2014

Judge Ray Hilman Montgomery

Canton

Ray Hilman Montgomery, 79, passed away Sunday afternoon, December 14, 2014 after a brief illness. Services will be held at 11am on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at First Baptist Church, Canton, Mississippi. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 8:00pm Tuesday, December 16 at Breeland Funeral Home. Burial and graveside service will be at 2:00pm, December 17, 2014 in Cato Cemetery, Johns, Mississippi.

Judge Ray Montgomery was born in Forest Grove, Mississippi on January 18, 1935 to Alvin Douglas Montgomery Sr. and Otice Ozella Bilbro Montgomery. At the age of 15, Ray contracted polio and was a longtime volunteer and supporter of the March of Dimes and served on the national board of Easter Seals for eight years.

He finished high school in Canton, Mississippi, attended Hinds Jr College, pursed a college degree at Millsaps and furthered his education by earning a law degree from Jackson School of Law. He was a member of the Mississippi Bar, a Mason, Wahabi Shriner, and lifelong member of Canton First Baptist Church.

A true public servant, Ray was elected Tax Assessor of Madison County and served 8 years in that position. He was a practicing attorney in Canton, elected to Mississippi State Senate serving 2 terms, and elected and served as County Judge. He was elected and served as Chancery Judge until his retirement. In retirement, he was appointed by the Supreme Court of Mississippi as a special Chancellor and continued to hear special cases until recently.

Ray Montgomery was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Mary Elizabeth O'Briant. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Dorothy Gill Montgomery; brother, Alvin Douglas Montgomery Jr; and many nieces, nephews and friends. A Special thank you to longtime friends Alvin and Pat Ottis.

An online guestbook is available at breelandfuneralhome.com.