Dr. Montfort Cleckley Duncan, Jr.

Dr. Montfort Cleckley Duncan Jr. was born April 3rd, 1947, and died August 6th, 2024. He was born in Tampa, Florida to Montfort Cleckley Duncan and Marie Haines Duncan. Mont was married to Martha Gay Evans Duncan for 53 years. They have three children, Suzanne Duncan Llop (Scott) of Lakeland, FL, Evans Duncan (Angie) of Maggie Valley, NC and Curtis Ross Duncan (Bailey) of Waynesville, NC. Mont has one sister, Carol Deane Williams of Jacksonville, FL. 

Mont attended Florida Southern College, Emory’s Candler School of Theology and Vanderbilt’s Divinity School earning a Doctor of Ministry Degree. While in Tennessee, he served a three-point charge in Murfreesboro. Upon returning to Florida, Mont served for 40 years in many positions: associate pastor, Kendall United Methodist Church, Miami (1973); Vamo United Methodist Church, Sarasota (1976); Aloma United Methodist Church, Winter Park (1984); Christ United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg (1988); East Naples United Methodist Church, Naples (1990); DeLand District as Superintendent (1995); Florida Conference Director, New Church Development (2001).

Mont retired in 2013. During his tenure in New Church Development, he directed the starting of 80 new United Methodist Churches in the Florida Conference. Of those churches, 70 are still home to growing congregations. Mont loved seeing new churches come alive. He also was the Chair of the Board of the United Methodist Children’s Home for ten years. This too was very fulfilling and brought renewed energy in seeing young lives changed by the love of Christ. 

Mont had five grandchildren and one great-grandson: Kyler Sean Coleman, Emma Elizabeth Duncan, Ethan Wall Duncan, Elizabeth Hampton Duncan, Swint Evans Duncan and Jace Alexander Coleman.

Mont’s Celebration of Life Service is planned for 11:00am, August 23rd, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church of Lakeland. A greeting of the family will follow afterward in the Fellowship Center. 

Donations may be made in Mont’s memory to Residing Hope (former Florida United Methodist Children’s Home) 51 Children’s Way, Enterprise, FL 32725 or First United Methodist Church of Lakeland, 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801. 

The care of Dr. Duncan has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.