Benny Montgomery

Benny M. Montgomery, Jr. was born in Chicago, IL on December 27, 1962, to Benny and Mae Montgomery, who both preceded him in death. Benny was the third child. On December 13, 2020, Ben was called home.

Benny loved to invite family and friends to the house for family gatherings. His favorite song was, “Benny and the Jet,” and his favorite gospel song was, “Walking Around Heaven.” Benny loved his family and friends on Homan Ave, and gatherings for the block parties in the summertime. 

Benny graduated from Farragut High School with High Honors, and Achievement. He later attended Roosevelt University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. This pushed him into the eyes of a successful career. Ben worked for Congressman Danny K. Davis Constituent Services Administration 7th District. He started working for the United States Congress when he was 17 years old. Ben started his political career with the former Congresswoman Cardiss Collins for 16 years, after her retirement in 1996. Benny then started working for Congressman Danny K. Davis.  Benny was happy to work the job he would be the most helpful in serving. Ben started working with several State Legislators, and Alderman, and he also worked with Daley. Ben said “after 31 years it feels good to retire at the age of 48 years old.”

Ben was a Deacon at Original Mt. Zion M.B. Church located at 4817 W Chicago Ave, under the leadership of Rev. J.W. Jackson.

Ben worked on letters to the Mayor Richard Daley to help candidates qualify to be commissioners. This was his passion. People would come to him with many issues such as federal government issues about Immigration and Social Security. 

One found memory of Ben’s life, was his assistance in picking a new Public Health Commissioner, where he banded together with leaders of the Community. Another memory, is when Ben raised money to assist in the fight against HIV and AIDS. He discovered that several organizations needed money to continue the fight of exterminating and preventing HIV and AIDS. Ben had a great of idea of creating a lottery ticket that provided grants for these organizations. He sat down with Mack Loveless, Michael O’Conner, and former Legislative State Representative Connie Howard. Together they wrote the legislation for the Lottery Ticket Quality of Life. He received assistance from the State Representative Karen Yarbrough, State Senator Jackie Collins, Democrats, and Republicans. In 2009, the Lottery Ticket Quality of Life, became a law. Within one year, this ticket generated $1.4 million and in the second year, the ticket raised $2.4 million. 

Ben was passionate about many things in his life. He accomplished several achievements along with Pastor Walter Jones. Together they worked on a taskforce that was geared towards fathers. For the past 10 years, Ben and Pastor Walter Jones, have been holding a Fatherhood Symposium where fathers are encouraged to be more active in the lives of their children. He worked on Federal Legislation that would help fathers to become more involved. At the time of his passing, Ben was still working on obtaining funding for the Taskforce…and it is not over. Ben said that he was happy with working but now it is time to retire.

Ben leaves to cherish his everlasting memories, his two brothers, Lee Montgomery, and Willie Dowe; four sisters, Pamela (Willie) Montgomery-Mack, Debora (Ronald) Montgomery-Vann, Starsha (Eric) Langston, and Sherri Burdine; one aunt, Elelyn Kyle, who is 97 years young; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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