Annie Willie Spivey Montgomery of Selma, Alabama, entered into rest on Sunday, January 11, 2009 in Selma, Alabama.  Annie was born in Collirene, Lowndes County, Alabama, on January 3, 1923, the fifth child of Robert Thomas Spivey and Annie Hardy Spivey.  She graduated from Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, in 1956, and began her teaching career in Business Communications at Tipton High School, and she retired from Southside High School. She also did post-graduate work at Livingston University in Montgomery. Her churches included Old Bethel Baptist church in Collirene, AL, her birth family church; St. Paul C. M. E. church of Selma, her family church; and Zion M. P. church during her later years.  

She was a longtime resident of Selma,  formerly married to Jerry David Montgomery, Sr. who passed away in 1995. They divorced in 1979.  She had two children, a son, Jerry David Montgomery, Jr. who preceded her in death on March 13, 2007, and a daughter, Jacqueline Delores Montgomery who resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a community correspondent for the Selma Times-Journal, a volunteer worker for the March of Dimes, and a member of the graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. During her earlier years, she worked as a secretary at the Fathers of St. Edmund and at the former R. B. Hudson High School. 

Arrangements are being handled by J. H. Williams and Sons Funeral Home, Selma AL. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to make a donation to any chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60601-7633, or to the charity or foundation of your choice. Condolences may be sent to Jacqueline D. Montgomery, 8303 Constitution Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45215. 

 Reach Out America 

Reach out America. Raise your thoughts, raise your aims. Raise your imagination too.  You have a strength we've known since America first began. Standing tall and spreading wide,  o' let the bald eagle we symbolize spread its wings far and wide. Reach out America. 

Reach out America. With your colors bright, clear and beautiful for all to see, stretch those wings as the eagle does.  Let us all join hands in America and keep the link strong. America! That's America's strength, built on determination to go on until the journey is completed. 

- Annie Spivey Montgomery, July 28, 1986 (in response to the NASA Challenger disaster)

 ALTERNATE VERSION: 

Reach Out America 

Reach out America.
Raise your thoughts, raise your aims.
Raise your imagination too.
You have a strength we've known since America first began.
Standing tall and spreading wide,
O' let the bald eagle we symbolize
Spread its wings far and wide.
Reach out America.
Reach out America.
With your colors bright, clear
Beautiful for all to see,
Stretch those wings as the eagle does. 
Let us all join hands in America and keep the link strong.
America!
That's America's strength, built on determination,
To go on until the journey is completed. 

- Annie Spivey Montgomery, July 28, 1986

(in response to the NASA Challenger disaster)