The Gillespie V. Montgomery Lock (formerly named Lock E) is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

The Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway is a 234-mile man-made, artificial waterway that extends from the Tennessee River to the junction of the Black Warrior-Tombigbee River system near Demopolis, Alabama, United States. The Tenneessee-Tombigbee Waterway links commercial navigation from the nation’s...

 (popularly known as the Tenn-Tom). It is located in north Itawamba County, Mississippi

Itawamba County, Mississippi

In 2000, there were 8,773 households out of which 33.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and...

, close to the Prentiss County

Prentiss County, Mississippi

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 25,556 people, 9,821 households, and 7,169 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile . There were 10,681 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...

 line.

It is the northernmost of a series of five locks within the Tenn-Tom referred to as the "Chain of Lakes" or "Canal" section. The lock has a lift of 30 feet and cost US$30 million.

Formerly known simply as Lock E, the lock was later renamed for Gillespie V. "Sonny" Montgomery

Gillespie V. Montgomery

Gillespie V. "Sonny" Montgomery was an American politician from Mississippi who served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1967–1997...

, a former member of the United States House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

from eastern Mississippi.