Cleoma Staley Jarvis Montgomery

Cleoma Staley Jarvis Montgomery, 96, of Winston-Salem, passed away Monday, April 28, 2014 at The Oaks at Forsyth. She was born April 3, 1918 in Wilkes County to General Harrison Staley and Sallie Segraves Staley. Cleoma had seven brothers and two sisters. The family farmed and because of the hard work and the depression, all the kids left home as soon as they were old enough to find their way to the city or the army. Jobs could be found in Winston-Salem at the tobacco factories, especially for nice looking girls barely old enough to be out on their own. Cleoma or Tommye as her friends called her, found a job at Brown & Williamson Co. and worked there until she met Elcie James Jarvis. Elcie became a restaurant operator after World War II ended and convinced Tommye to quit her job at the tobacco factory and become a waitress and also a mother. Elcie died in 1956 leaving Tommye to raise their son Anthony by herself. She continued to work as a waitress most of her life, working at several restaurants owned by her cousin Lawrence Staley. Late in life after retirement, she married long-time friend and companion, Johnnie B. Montgomery and together they spent the best years of their life in Supply, North Carolina. In addition to her husbands, Elcie and Johnnie, she was preceded in death by seven brothers and two sisters. Surviving are her son, Anthony Craig Jarvis and wife Teresa; and one grandson, James Wade Jarvis. A graveside service will be held at 12:00 Noon Thursday, May 1, 2014 at Parklawn Memorial Park Mausoleum with the Rev. Van Nelson officiating. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com. (Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is in charge of arrangements).

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