Generations honor longtime Montgomery leader Chester Mallory

Local business owner Chester Mallory was remembered this week as a man who built his career in real estate, but who built his life around helping generations of young Montgomerians.

The longtime civic leader, Alabama State University educator and owner of Mallory Realty died Dec. 17 at age 82. No cause of death was released, but friends and colleagues said Mallory had dealt with health issues in recent years. Despite that, he remained active on local leadership boards until this year, including the Montgomery Airport Authority and the Montgomery City-County Public Library.

“He just kept going and going,” said Sandra Nickel, a real estate colleague who served on the airport board with Mallory. “He had such a servant’s heart.”

Those he had an impact on over the years shared their memories of Mallory after his death, including students and nonprofit agencies.

Mona Taylor-Davis of the Gift of Life Foundation said Mallory served on the board for the nonprofit, which provides home visits and parenting education for mothers at risk for infant mortality. Mallory was also a frequent donor and volunteer for the organization, and Taylor-Davis said he was always eager to play Santa for kids in the program.

At one such event, Taylor-Davis noticed that Santa Mallory would hand each kid a $2 bill. When she asked why, Mallory told her that the bills were “uncommon, rare, special.”

“He wanted the children to know they are special,” she said.

ASU President Quinton Ross praised the former psychology teacher’s impact inside and outside of the classroom over the decades, and he noted Mallory’s specific interest in helping young people and underserved families.

Mallory was in real estate for 50 years and built a small business in Montgomery that inspired others here. Several former Montgomery Advertiser Community Heroes described how he had helped shape their lives.

“I learned something nearly every time you spoke to me,” Downtown Business Association President Jonathan Avant wrote in a tribute on social media. “You played a huge role in the real estate industry but especially for those realtors of color. You left your mark and I know God is telling you well done at this moment.”

Another former Community Hero, State Farm Insurance Agent Willie Durham, said he still remembers playing little league football on a team sponsored by Mallory Realty. Decades later, when Durham became chair of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, he got a call from a former Chamber board member – Chester Mallory.

“He reached out to me just to tell me how proud he was,” Durham said.

“I often say we’re sitting in the shade of trees that we didn’t plant. Chester Mallory was one of the branches of that tree.”

That role seemed to be second nature for Mallory, said his younger sister, Beverly Mercer. Mallory, she said, was a caregiver for those around him since he was young.

"He looked out for all of us, even his church," Mercer said. "What everybody said about him was true."

Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said in a statement that Mallory left a legacy of love for his community above all.

"His name will always be synonymous with success, especially among Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in our city. However we will remember him most for his spirit for service, civic pride and financial support for causes that helped move the needle in Montgomery," Reed said in a statement. "Our prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues."

Funeral arrangements had not yet been released.

Brad Harper covers business and local government for the Montgomery Advertiser. Contact him at bharper1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Longtime Montgomery business leader Chester Mallory dies at 82