Cherri Ann Montgomery

Cherri Montgomery, 54, of Springfield, passed away early on Monday, February 21, 2022. She was born in Madison, IL, the daughter of A.C. Ware, Sr. and Mildred (Virgil) Ware. She was an active member of Christ the King Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her father, A.C. Ware Sr., and brother, Otis Redmond Ware. She is survived by her loving husband of 29 years, Leonard, and their 13-year-old son, Myles; her mother, Mildred Ware of Venice, IL; seven siblings, Marilyn (Eddie) Wigfall of Quincy, IL, Gwendolyn Ware of Granite City, IL, Jacqueline Ware of Granite City, IL, Jerriann (Kenneth) Johnson of Alton, IL, Sharon (Randy) Ware of St. Louis, MO, A.C. (Della) Ware, Jr. of Venice, IL, and Avery (Jamie) Ware of Nashville, TN; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

Cherri earned both a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Western Illinois University. An accomplished professional, Cherri worked at the Illinois Department of Human Services with over 20 years of experience in Strategic Planning, Policy Development and Labor Relations Management. She was also a former Cabinet Member Director in the Index Department working directly with the Illinois Office of Secretary of State Jesse White.

Cherri was also very active with her multiple political accomplishments. She had over 20 years of experience working on several Illinois statewide constitutional office campaigns, ran a proud campaign for the Springfield Park District where she promoted an open park for everyone, was the 2012 Central Illinois Lead for President Obama’s re-election Presidential campaign. Most impressively, Cherri was a 2020 Illinois Elected Delegate for the 18th Congressional District for Joe Biden’s Presidential campaign, casting an electoral college vote.

Cherri will be remembered most for her dedication and service to her community. She had just been appointed to the school board at Christ the King Elementary School. She previously served at The Sangamo Club as a board member, at the Springfield Urban League as a board member, at the Springfield Arts Council as a board member, and was a Springfield Families Helping Families micro-pantry member. Cherri was a strong supporter of the micro-pantries in Springfield. On any given day she would be out talking with local businesses for donations, collecting and purchasing items out of her own pocket and filling up multiple local pantries to make sure they were full, even early on the weekend.

Yet with even all of these successful endeavors, Cherri herself would be the first to tell you that her proudest accomplishment of all was her son Myles. Myles was recently part of the Christ the King State Championship Basketball team, which earned a state title. Cherri was so proud of Myles’ abilities as an honor-roll student, multi-talented standout travel athlete and loving and caring friend to others. Myles successfully embodies all the great qualities that Cherri brought to each of us in her daily life.

Cherri worked very hard for her son and the community as a whole to make sure she made a lasting difference. She was a great mother to Myles and a lovely wife to Leonard, whom she deeply loved. She always talked about how important family values were along with empathy, compassion and inclusion. She loved all her friends who came from different walks of life, backgrounds and cultures.

In lieu of flowers, please seriously consider by helping contribute to the scholarship fund that has been established for Myles J. Montgomery, c/o any Marine Bank location. We all want Myles to succeed in all the directions of life his accomplishments will lead him and to carry on with the tremendous foundation established by Cherri and Leonard. With Cherri at heart, Myles can continue to properly go forward with the ideals of faith, family, friends, love and community service that Cherri demonstrated for all of us. She is an inspiring force to us all on how we should live our lives and she will not be forgotten by her many, many friends in a community that so benefited time and again from her hard work and dedication.

Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 27, 2022, at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 3:45 p.m.

Funeral Mass: 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 28, 2022, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1930 Barberry Dr., Springfield, with Rev. Chris House, celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.