James Montgomery English

James Montgomery English was the first of four children born to Jackie Mosley and Willie Beatrice English born on May 12,1944 in Waterbury, Connecticut. After some time, James and his siblings moved to Malvern, Arkansas where they continued their education and upbringing due to a teaching job that their mother had acquired there.

From 1962 to 1966, James attended college in Pine Bluff, Arkansas at the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical, and Normal College, now known as University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB) where he met his wife-to-be, Myra Lynette English. James also became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. After graduation in 1966, James and Myra moved from their homes in Arkansas to Omaha, Nebraska where they both became educators for Omaha Public Schools. During his time in Omaha, he continued his education and earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).

James taught as a Math Teacher at Technical High School. It is here that he became the first Black math teacher for that school. Many years later he moved on to become an Assistant Principal for Monroe Junior High and later became an Administrator at the Omaha Public Schools (OPS) Teacher Administration Center (TAC) Building. He was known also as someone who helped others receive the GED along with helping incoming teachers get ready for the Praxis test. Included in his life journey as an Educator/Administrator, James enjoyed activities that included bowling, playing an occasional game of Chess, attending and watching Nebraska Football games, and entertaining family and friends.

James will be remembered for his many accomplishments, being an eventful entertainer, his love of music and style of stepping, his hours upon hours of listening to his favorite comedian (Richard Pryor), his admiration of James Brown, and his ability to bring laughter to those around him.

James Montgomery English, 78, was called home Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at his Omaha home. He is survived by his two daughters, Yvonne Smith and Myra Yvette English; 4 grandchildren, Sergeant Montez English, Ymari Hogan, (Son and Daughter of Yvette English) and Darrington Johnson, Donovan Johnson (Sons of Yvonne Smith); nieces, Mikaila Lovelace, Dr. Nicola Lovelace; nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, neighbors and childhood friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jackie Mosley English; mother, Willie Beatrice (Gloster) Wright; and stepfather, Val Wright Jr. His siblings, Robert English, Yvonne Lovelace, Rodney English and his lovely wife, Myra Lynette English.