Mary Polk Montague Yerger passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, December 20, 2025. She was born March 3, 1933, in Hattiesburg, the daughter of the late Ida Lois Polk Montague and Frank Douglas Montague.
After growing up in Hattiesburg, she attended Randolph Macon Woman’s College and was a graduate of Sophie Newcomb College where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. After graduation she taught school in Hattiesburg and Jackson. Active in church, school, and community service, she was a past president of the Mississippi Art Association and the Gallery Guild. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Junior League of Jackson, National Society of Colonial Dames in America, LeFleur Garden Club, Play Readers, Southern Luncheon Club and several other civic organizations.
She is survived by her son Wirt Adams Yerger III and his wife Linda Biggers Yerger of Jackson; daughter Mary Yerger Dunbar and her husband Thomas Tarver Dunbar of Jackson; son Frank Montague Yerger and his wife Jane Prater Yerger of Oxford; granddaughters Mary Montague Dunbar and Sarah Jane Rivers Yerger; grandsons Wirt Adams Yerger IV and his wife Jordan Jones Yerger, James David Yerger and his wife Natalie Sink Yerger, Richard Montague Yerger and his wife Rachael Hardin Yerger, John Taylor Yerger and his wife Lauren Meyer Yerger, Thomas Yerger Dunbar, Wirt Yerger Dunbar, Frank Montague Yerger Jr. and Harlan Prater Yerger, and great granddaughters Jane Ellen Yerger, Anny Elizabeth Yerger, Mary Adams Yerger, Ellen Gray Yerger, Mary Gatlin Yerger and Anna Gray Yerger, great grandsons Richard Montague Yerger Jr., William James Yerger, Shepard Scheffen Yerger, Wirt Adams Yerger V, Nathaniel James Yerger and John Taylor Yerger Jr., Gingia Yerger, Pate Yerger and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Wirt Adams Yerger, Jr. of Jackson she was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Richard Abner Montague and his wife Lynn Williams Montague, Frank Douglas Montague Jr. and his wife Mary Dixon Montague, and her nephews Harold Dixon Montague and Richard Abner Montague Jr. She was also preceded in death by William Swan Yerger, Ivan Bass Yerger and Rivers Gay Yerger Lurate.
Her family would like to thank R.W. Slater, Sarah Robinson, Lola Walker, Katrina Rogers, Daphine Hopson and Julia Gray for their excellent care and friendship.
Visitation will be in Miller Hall at First Presbyterian Church on Monday, December 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, December 23 at 10 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church. A private family burial service will take place earlier at Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Day School, 1390 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39202, French Camp Academy, One Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745, Greenwood Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 55783, Jackson, MS 39296.
