Mildred Carter Montgomery

An anointed, saved, sanctified, spirit filled servant who lived a life that brought honor and glory to God. More than sixty years ago, she discovered her purpose and was an example to many women in her walk of life. Not shying away from the challenges and tragedies of her personal life, Evangelist Montgomery has always been transparent, encouraging others to let God heal, deliver, and set them free. Each experience and trial she endured, drew her closer to God. She praised God by singing “Your Grace and Mercy Brought Me Through…I Want to Thank You and Praise You Too.” Her natural life began with her birth January 21, 1932, as the thirteenth child of twenty-one, to parents, Joseph, and Oliva Carter. She married Wesley Stewart in 1951 and moved with him to Honolulu, Hawaii. To this union her two children were born, Diedre Stewart and Byron Stewart, AIA. With two young children, Mildred found herself a single parent. But with this challenge, God set a path for her to come to Him, be healed, delivered, and set free. She married Josh Moore and through his sister, Missionary Altee Moore Wagner, she was introduced to Jesus Christ and Holiness. After her encounter with Christ one night at a District Meeting in Bogalusa, Louisiana where Superintendent Howard Quillen, Sr. preached “Holiness—The Way”, she heard and obeyed the voice of God drawing her to holiness. She accepted salvation and during the message, was filled with the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. Full of power from the Holy Ghost, she returned home to share with her husband, the power and blessing of the Lord. Heeding the direction of the Holy Spirit, she laid on her husband who was sick with cancer, and he too was baptized with the Holy Ghost. Many young women would not understand nor recover from the death of her children’s father and the subsequent death of her husband, but God gave Sister Mildred strength to endure and grow the more in Him. As a member of First Church of God in Christ in Hammond, Louisiana, her pastor, Superintendent Monroe Magee taught her how to depend on God. This teaching was never more evident for on October 4, 1962, she was in an automobile accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors told her she would never walk again—but God! Superintendent Monroe Magee prayed the prayer of healing before her surgery. She immediately rose from the bed and walked! The doctors were astonished and proclaimed it a miracle. Time passed, and Elder W. B. Foster, a widower, asked Sister Mildred to marry him, and they moved to New Orleans where she became First Lady of the St. James Church of God in Christ. They were married for twenty-nine years until his death, and as a pastor’s wife, her maturity in the Lord grew and developed the more. Making full proof of her ministry, she was licensed as an Evangelist Missionary under the late Supervisor Miriam McGregor Jones and Bishop W. K. Gordon, Louisiana Eastern Jurisdiction. She served District #8 led by then Superintendent James Feltus, Jr., and District Missionary Viola Montgomery. After District #8 became a part of the Church of God in Christ United, founded by Bishop James Feltus, Jr., Missionary Mildred Foster was appointed District Missionary and served with the late District Superintendent Jerry Brown for twenty-five years. In 1987, Louisiana Eastern was divided into three ecclesiastical jurisdictions and District #8 became the Fifth District serving in the Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction led by the late Bishop Joseph A. Thompson and the late Mother Thelma Harper Montgomery, Supervisor for the Department of Women. After the death of Pastor W.B. Foster, Missionary Foster became espoused to Superintendent Johnnie Montgomery, pastor of the Historical Spain Street Church of God in Christ in Louisiana Eastern First Jurisdiction where the late Bishop James E. Gordon served as Jurisdictional Prelate and the late Mother Corrine Griffin served as Supervisor, Department of Women. This gave Missionary Mildred Montgomery the unique experience of serving two churches, two districts and two jurisdictions. She has served as a First Lady for more than fifty years and as a District Missionary for over thirty years. She served Louisiana First Jurisdiction as President of the Ministers’ Wives Circle, Executive Board President, member, Counseling Committee, and member, Catheterizing Board under Jurisdictional Bishop Alphonso Denson and Mother Dorothy Richardson, Jurisdictional Supervisor, Department of Women. In 2017, her grandson-in-love, Elder Larry O. Thomas, I and granddaughter, Sister Zoneke Domino-Thomas became Pastor and First Lady of Historical Spain Street Church of God in Christ where Missionary Mother Mildred Montgomery served faithfully. She was preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings, and her beloved grandson, Byron Joseph Stewart, Jr., affectionately called ‘BJ’. Missionary Mildred Montgomery leaves to treasure her memory and maintain her legacy, her daughter, Missionary Diedre S. Domino and son-in-love, Deacon Robert Domino; son, Byron J. Stewart, AIA and daughter-in-love, Tracy; three grandchildren, Lady Zoneke Domino-Thomas (Pastor Larry O, Thomas, I), Brionne Marcelle, Trent Marcelle and Bailee Stewart; and three great-grandchildren, Michael Anthony Watts, Lèland O’Mari Thompson, and Josephine Elyse Marcelle; Historical Spain Street Church of God in Christ, Louisiana Eastern First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, god-children, sons and daughters in Zion, saints of the Most High and a host of other relatives, and friends. You are invited to attend the Celebration of Life at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 16, 2022 at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church on 2515 Franklin Ave, New Orleans, LA. Pubic visitation will be from 10:00 am until 11:00 am. Services are officiated by The Right Reverend Bishop Alphonso Denson. Sr. Burial will follow, at Lake Lawn Cemetery, New Orleans, LA. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes 3933 Washington Ave. New Orleans, LA. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the guestbook.

Mildred Carter Montgomery

December 10, 2022