Dr. Orinthia T. Montague

Dr. Orinthia T. Montague, affectionately known as Dr. O and President of Volunteer State Community College, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 22. Born on January 5, 1967, in Kingston, Jamaica, she was the youngest of six siblings. She is preceded in death by her father, Aubrey Montague, and sister, Patricia Atkinson.

Prior to serving as the fourth president of Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin Tennessee since September 2021, Dr. Montague served as the fourth president of Tompkins Cortland Community College from 2017-2021 in Dryden, New York. She was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to the New York Rebound Taskforce to stimulate the economy in response to the effects of the Covid pandemic in 2020.

Dr. Montague was a proud member of the Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

She is survived by her husband, Michael McGhee, the love of her life whom she wed in 2004; her mother, Linda Montague; siblings, Joan Montague, Sandra (Eddie) Bolden, Mark (Jennie) Montague, and Sharon (Calvin) Mister. She also leaves behind loving nieces and nephews, Jennifer Atkinson, Nijell (Ronisia) Jones, Jada Mister, Christopher (Brittany) Atkinson, Edward Bolden, Alex Bolden, Alan Bolden, Aubrey Williams and Caleb Montague;  children, Christopher, Brian, Tiffany (Andrew), Annalise Patterson, and Martise; brothers-in-law, Earl (Jerlean) Levy, Marvin (Linda) McGhee, and Manfret McGhee; sisters-in-law, Marion Wise, Priscilla Levy, Joyce McDonald, and Noelle Vannortswick; grandchildren, Briana, Christian, Aniya, Anthony, Jaylen, Isiah, Jayde, Micah, and Amelia. She will be fondly remembered by a host of friends and extended family, especially her close friends—Sharon Beatty, Sherrone Beatty-Wells, Jeri Blakely, Greg Lyons, Greg McCalley, Tina Mosley, Alana Parks, Ty Stone, and Heather Weeden.

Donations in Dr. O’s honor can be made to the Volunteer State Community Foundation attn: Karen Mitchell, Vice President, Resource Development, or to the Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research.

Final arrangements have been entrusted to Sumner Funeral and Cremation. Her funeral will be held at Volunteer State Community College on Friday, September 29, 2023 at Pickel Gymnasium. Public viewing will be from 10:30-12; Funeral will begin at 12.