Walter "W.J." Montgomery was the fourth child born to the late Arthur Lee Montgomery, Sr. and Sadie Quattlebaum-Montgomery.  He was born in Effingham (Florence County), South Carolina on July 15th, 1953.

At an early age, Walter, aka "W.J." attended Denmark Area Trade School and began learning a trade in Brick Masonry and Construction.  At the age of twenty-one, W.J. moved to Columbia, South Carolina and begn employment with Mid-State Construction Company.  Walter was a dedicated employee with the company for forty-five years.

He leaves to cherish fond memories:  two older sisters, Gloria-Jean Montgomery of Brooklyn, New York and Hellen Montgomery of North Los Angeles, California; close friends, Jenny Brown, Earnestine Dowling, Camille Jenkins and Sarah Broxton of Denmark, South Carolina; as well as a host of nieces and nephews.