Car-Bicycle Crash Claims Life of West TN Pastor

A west Tennessee pastor has died from injuries received Tuesday in a car-bicycle crash in Memphis.

The crash occurred Tuesday evening on North Perkins Road as 68-year-old Rev. Dr. Stephen R. Montgomery rode his bicycle. He was taken to Regional One Medical Center, where he passed away Friday.

A Memphis Police spokesperson told West Kentucky Star that Montgomery turned in front of the car that struck him, and that no charges were filed against the driver.

Montgomery served as Senior Pastor of Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis from 2000 to 2019. 

He was also active in several west Tennessee organizations, including being on the boards of the National Civil Rights Museum and LeMoyne-Owen College.

Montgomery spent a total of 39 years in pastoral ministry in Texas, Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee.