South Carolina H 5198: Mary Montgomery Sympathy

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5198 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 18, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5198

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE 
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF Reverend Dr. Mary 
Lou Myers-Montgomery, Esquire, OF richland COUNTY AND to EXTEND THEIR DEEPEST 
SYMPATHY TO HER LOVING FAMILY AND HER MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives was saddened to learn of the death of Reverend 
Dr. Mary Lou Myers-Montgomery, Esquire, at the age of seventy-three on Monday, February 
9, 2026; and

Whereas, a native of 
Columbia, she was born on September 19, 1952, the youngest of sixteen children of 
the late Harvey D. and Ruth Ford Myers; and

Whereas, from an early 
age, Reverend Dr. Myers-Montgomery committed her life to serving the Lord. She 
was baptized at Zion Baptist Church in Columbia where she remained an active 
and faithful member throughout her life. She served the congregation by singing 
with the youth choir and the Inspirational Singers and working with the 
Scholarship, Publicity, Historical, and Enrichment committees; and

Whereas, educated in 
Richland County District One schools, she graduated from Booker T. Washington 
High School with honors in 1970. She earned a bachelor's degree, master's 
degree, and a juris doctorate from the University of South Carolina. In 1987, 
she earned a Master of Laws in International Law from Georgetown University 
while earning a Master of Divinity from Howard University. She studied 
international ministries at Mansfield College at Oxford University in England; 
and

Whereas, Reverend Dr. Myers-Montgomery 
graduated from Howard University with a perfect 4.0 GPA and received fellowship 
in the Benjamin E. Mays Fund for Theological Education, listing in Who's Who 
Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, membership in Kappa Tau 
Alpha National Journalism Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, 
and the Dean's Award for Academic Excellence from Howard University School of 
Divinity; and

Whereas, her storied 
career included service as an assistant United States attorney in the United States 
Department of Justice during the Reagan Administration under Attorney General 
Edwin Meese. She served as a federal judicial clerk for the Honorable Matthew 
J. Perry, an account executive for Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph 
Company, a staff writer for the Associated Press in Charlotte, communications 
law professor at Howard University, and a reporter for three newspapers; and

Whereas, Reverend Dr. Myers-Montgomery 
was among the Daughters of Zion, women of Zion Baptist Church who defied 
tradition to proclaim the Gospel and pursue ordination, and was ordained into 
the Gospel ministry on June 8, 1986. She served as pastor of Burroughs Memorial 
Baptist Church in Columbia and taught biblical literature and ethics at Claflin 
University; and

Whereas, combining her 
knowledge of international law and theology, she designed and led a South 
African foreign missions project through Gethsemane Baptist Church in 
Washington, D. C., providing food for starving children. She was a frequent 
guest speaker at churches and served as president of Seek Peace and Pursue It 
Ministries, Inc., and led S-P-A-P-I Publishing Company; and

Whereas, Reverend Dr. 
Myers-Montgomery dedicated her time to teaching children to read and write 
through Dees Tutoring and offering pro bono legal services. Married to the late 
Moses Montgomery, she leaves two siblings, Thomas J. Myers and Andrea L. Myers-Davis, 
to cherish her memory, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other 
relatives; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the life and legacy of Mary 
Montgomery and for the example of service and devotion she set for all who knew 
her. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Reverend 
Dr. Mary Lou Myers-Montgomery, Esquire, of Richland County and extend their 
deepest sympathy to her loving family and her many friends.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Reverend Dr. Mary 
Lou Myers-Montgomery, Esquire. 

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This web page was last updated on February 18, 2026 at 01:10 PM