ForeverMissed
Large image
Her Life

Funeral Arrangements

April 22, 2015

Services:

Thursday, April 23, 2015

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Viewing at Funeral Home

Friday, April 24, 2015

  9:00 a.m.  Viewing at Church

10:00 a.m.  Church Service

11:00 a.m.  Cemetery Service


MT. LEBANON BAPTIST CHURCH

228 Decatur Street

Brooklyn, NY  11233

718.493.8770

www.mlbc.org


MATTHEW BARRETT - R.S. FUNERAL HOME

1084 Pacific Street

Brooklyn, NY  11238

718.452.3621


CYPRESS HILLS CEMETERY

833 Jamaica Avenue

Brooklyn, NY  11208

718.277.2900

www.cypresshillscemetery.org

 

Obituary

April 22, 2015

Phyllis “Aunt Tillie” Jones Montague, at the beautiful age of 102, passed on to our heavenly kingdom on Sunday, April 19, 2015 after a brief illness. During her last days, she was cared for by the special staff at Menorah Hospice in Brooklyn, NY.  John and Mildred “McTeer” Jones welcomed Phyllis to our earthly world on Saturday, November 30, 1912.  Growing up in the South, she was raised as a Baptist and carried her Faith with her wherever she lived or traveled.  Aunt Tillie married Samuel Montague in 1930 and they moved to New York where she was a pediatric registered nurse and he, a long time chauffeur.

Aunt Tillie lost Samuel in 1952, but she had joined Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church on May 1, 1949 which, with its loving support, helped her through the loss and she more than persevered.  She was known to say, “There’s nothing that’s going to happen this week that God and you can’t handle together.”  Mrs. Montague immersed herself in the church for the next 56 years and taught Sunday school children for many of them.  Aunt Tillie prayed faithfully and easily quoted scripture, but she didn’t just read her Bible each morning; she lived it throughout the day and many times could be heard saying about upcoming events “God Willing”.

Her career as a professional African-American woman also set an example for others and she inspired so many along the way; to say nothing of the babies that she helped usher into the world.  Phyllis lived a spectacular life; through the Great Depression and Prohibition while witnessing the advent of aviation, television, segregation to  integration, seeing a man walk on the moon, computers, cell phones and, of course, the election of Barack Obama - the first African-American President of the United States of America.  She survived the early years and relished it all.

Just remember though, as hard as Phyllis worked, she played.  Besides taking care of many healthy plants at her well appointed home, Aunt Tillie loved to travel.  She crisscrossed the United States many times including Alaska and Hawaii, hosted going-away parties for her cruises to Europe a few times and visited the Holy Land in Africa.  It seems like she always had a suitcase packed and was ready to head off to the next exciting location.  Mrs. Montague was a fashion maven and wore her clothing like a Fifth Avenue model while displaying her personally manicured nails; another skill she had learned attending cosmetology school early in her life.

Phyllis retired from Kings County Hospital in 1977, but she had another career waiting in the wings called Volunteerism which became her new way of life.  For over 20 years, Aunt Tillie loved to joke about going to help the “old folks” in the nursing homes until she was in her early 90’s.  Her longest career however was being supportive of family and friends with her Faith throughout her life.  Everyone can attest to receiving birthday and Christmas cards every year, but more importantly you knew she would take the time to listen and encourage you along the right path.  Although, Phyllis had wonderful recollections, she focused on living in the present while preparing for the future – both on earth and in heaven.  She loved her family and while she was Aunt Tillie to many nieces and nephews, she adopted many people in the community and was Aunt Tillie to the world over.

An honored centenarian, she outlived her husband along with six brothers and sisters.  Nieces that pre-deceased Phyllis include Beatrice Breland, Lorene Brayboy and Daisy Mae Cunningham all of Aiken, SC and Virginia Guinty of Queens, NY.  Mrs. Montague is survived by nieces and nephews; Willie Mae Mackie of Brooklyn, NY, Earl Davis of Belize City, Belize, Doretta Wilson of North Cape May, NJ, James L. Martin of Davie, FL, Joseph L. Martin of Ashaway, RI, Dr. Marilyn Martin of Owings Mills, MD, Regina L. Martin of Forestville, MD, 30 great nieces and nephews, 54 great-great nieces and nephews and 43 great-great-great nieces and nephews.

Aunt Tillie loved to nurture children and plants.  Please feel free to make a donation to the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church Sunday School Program or send a plant for the children to nurture.  Thank you. 

“How far you go

in life depends on

your being tender with the young,

compassionate with the aged,

sympathetic with the striving

and tolerant of the weak and strong.

Because someday in life

you will have been

all of these.”

 George Washington Carver