EDWARDS — Wilkins Henry “Sonny” Montgomery Jr., 82, a lifelong resident of Edwards, passed away Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at Wright and Ferguson Funeral home in Clinton and at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Edwards Baptist Church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church with burial to follow in Edwards Cemetery.

Mr. Montgomery was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps having served in World War II. He was a life-long member of Edwards Baptist Church and a deacon.  He was a graduate of Mississippi State University and a past-president of the Mississippi LP Gas Association.

Mr. Montgomery owned and operated H&M Gas Company for 46 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilkins Henry Montgomery and Agnes Fondren Montgomery; and his first wife Barbara Hubbard Montgomery.

Survivors include his wife Rebecca Hardy Montgomery of Edwards; children, Jennifer Montgomery Stuart of Birmingham, William H. “Monty” Montgomery of Ridgeland, Jeff Hubbard Montgomery (Gail) of Vicksburg, William Fondren “Bill” Montgomery (Linda) of Edwards, and Jane M. McHann (Brian) of Clinton; step-children, Lonnie Allen Edgar, Sr. of Flora, Julia Rebecca Land (Ron) of Birmingham and Janet Michelle Dukes (Michael) of Edwards; a brother, Dave Montgomery of Edwards;  and a sister, Betty Ann Crawford of Holly Bluff; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and other family members.

Memorials may be made to Edwards Baptist Church, P.O. Box 138, Edwards, MS, 39066 or the Edwards Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 593, Edwards, MS, 39066.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Emergency Room, ICU, and the Restorative Care Unit at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center for their excellent care and compassion.