Mrs. Nell, My First-Grade Teacher, Passes On

By Steve Crain


 “Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 115:16). 


Before speaking at Mrs. Nell’s funeral last Wednesday, I thought about her first-grade classroom at Mountain View Elementary School in 1953 — that year, I was one of her students. She was a great teacher and became an encouraging friend.


Mrs. Nell Thompson Adams Montgomery, 94 (Sept. 21, 1929 to April 18, 2024), attended Faith Temple for years. Married to the late Mr. Richard Adams for 45 years, she later was wed to the Rev. William Montgomery for almost 14 years. Her older brother, the late Rev. James H. “Jimmy” Thompson, was Faith Temple's founding minister and my childhood pastor.  

Mrs. Nell, a graduate of North Greenville College and Furman Univ., was single and about 24 years old when she was my teacher. We often exchanged letters during the later years of her life. In 2014, after reading a story I penned about my mother’s family, Mrs. Nell wrote, “Dear Steve, when I die, maybe you can speak for me.” 


I wrote back, “Mrs. Nell, if I am in good health and don't ‘go' before you do, I'd be glad to say a few words for you.”


Mrs. Nell said she gave her heart to the Lord at age 10 at a revival at Double Springs Baptist Church, across the road from her family’s home. She said she grew stronger after receiving “the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.” 

  At the funeral, Mrs. Hope Barbare, Mrs. Nell’s older daughter and a retired elementary school teacher, told of memories. Mrs. Charlotte McClimon asked Blake, one of her two sons, to read her tribute to her mother. Mr. Wendell Williams, 70, a retired machinist and choir leader, sang. 


After Mrs. Nell retired from teaching, she volunteered as a tutor at the “Greer Learning Center.” Wendell Williams, at age 59, wanted to earn his GED. The center introduced him to a tutor — Mrs. Nell. After two weeks, she asked her new student, “Do you believe in God?” Wendell said, “Oh, yes. I’m a born-again Christian!” Tears came to her eyes. She then invited him to her home for 2-hour sessions, Monday through Friday for 4-and-1/2 years. On Thursdays, they shortened their lessons, and Wendell drove Mrs. Nell’s car to WGGS to pick up Pastor Jimmy. They would ride to the S&S Cafeteria. Wendell scored in the top 5% on the state GED test. In 2008, at Greenville First Baptist, he graduated in cap-and-gown and heard “Pomp and Circumstance” played. Mrs. Nell was there, and she cried. “She changed my life,” Wendell says.


Two of 5 of the children of Mr. Lawrence and Mrs. Esther Thompson attended the funeral: Mr. Tommy Thompson (Janette) and Mrs. Judy Thompson Cody (Bill). The deceased children are Mrs. Betty Thompson Glenn (Billy), Pastor Jimmy Thompson (Joanne), and Mrs. Nell (William) Montgomery.


Mrs. Nell is survived by her husband, Rev. William O. Montgomery; daughters, Hope (Jim) Barbare and Charlotte (Tim) McClimon; grandchildren, Brian Barbare, Lindsey (Chris) Zemla, Trent (Angela) Barbare, Timothy (Kimber) McClimon, and Blake (Kelsea) McClimon; and 6 great-grandchildren. ###

                               

  “Our grief is bound up with our love,” Phillips Brooks said. “Grief is the price of Love,” someone said.

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