Caldwell—Frances Montague Gillham Caldwell, 78, on August 7, 2016, at home in Crosswicks, N.J., after a yearlong illness. Monty was born on April 28, 1938, in Memphis, Tenn., to Frances H. and Lt. Col. William T. Gillham. Her father was an army officer during World War II and was an aide to Gen. Douglas MacArthur during the Japanese occupation. She graduated from Northside High School in Atlanta, Ga., and received a degree in home economics from Florida State University in 1960.
She married Cullen “Jack” Caldwell in 1961, and that same year they moved to New Jersey, where he was a jazz bassist at the Jersey Shore. For 28 years, Monty was a beloved elementary school librarian in North Hanover Township, N.J., and through her work she participated in one of the first post-Communist teacher exchanges with Russia in 1991. She also worked with educator E.D. Hirsch, providing data for his books on cultural literacy. After her retirement in 1994, she worked part time as a children’s librarian in Bordentown, N.J. She was a member of Crosswicks (N.J.) Meeting and was active in many civic and cultural organizations in Crosswicks.
Monty is survived by her husband of 55 years, Cullen “Jack” Caldwell; three children, Russell Caldwell, Katherine Caldwell (Bob Bauer), and Rachel Caldwell; three grandchildren; two sisters, Emily Middleton and Martha Waskey; a sister-in-law, Rachael Bennett; 11 nieces and nephews; and four great-grandchildren.
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