Delphia Vitula Montgomery

Delphia Vitula Montgomery, 98, of Poplar Bluff formerly of Walnut Ridge, Ark., died Monday, Aug. 16, 2010 at The Manor in Poplar Bluff.

Mrs. Montgomery, the last of 17 children, was born April 12, 1912 in Grubbs, Ark. She was a member of Brown Chapel AME Church in Poplar Bluff, and was a member of the Eastern Star in Walnut Ridge, Ark. During her earlier years Mrs. Montgomery worked in a dry cleaning business and later retired from a fabric factory in Walnut Ridge. After moving to Poplar Bluff she worked as a cook at the SEMO Baptist Youth Camp. Mrs. Montgomery enjoyed cooking and was famous for her fried pies. She also enjoyed flower gardening.

In 1942, she married Hubert Towns. He preceded her in death. In 1947, she married Hurley Montgomery in Newport, Ark. He preceded her in death in 1976.

Survivors include two children, Freda W. Ballard and husband Roosevelt of Poplar Bluff and the Rev. Louise Moore of Lynwood, Calif.; 15 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, several great-great grandchildren, several great-great-great grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews; and a young lady she mentored, Bernetta Peoples of Monroe, La.

Her parents, Tom and Lula Young Sloan and 16 brothers and sisters also preceded her in death.

Visitation will begin at 12 noon Saturday at Brown Chapel AME Church in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday at Brown Chapel AME Church with the Rev. James Boler officiating. The interment will be a private family service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Batesville, Ark. at a later date.

Family and friends may share an online condolence or memory at www.cotrellfuneralservice.com.

Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff is in charge of the arrangements.