Vera Royal

On January 28, 2012 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice in Whiteville, NC, the soul of Vera Rogers Royal, born on July 21, 1921 in Des Moines, Iowa, entered the "Realms of endless day".



She was predeceased by her parents, The Rev. Dr. Vere Hudson Rogers and Gladys Merle Peek Rogers; a brother, Rongis James Rogers; a grandson, Michael Evan Hill; and a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Ann McDonald Royal.



She is survived by her husband, James Peyton Royal, Sr.; one daughter, Sue Rogers Royal Hill and husband, Michael Earl Hill of Raleigh, NC; three sons, James Peyton Royal, Jr., of Salisbury, Maryland; Hudson Ashley Royal and wife, Rowena Elizabeth Little Royal of Rockville, Virginia; and Allan Vere Royal of Raleigh, NC; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.



Mrs. Royal spent her early life until mid high school in the environs of Kansas City, Missouri, when her father became pastor of First Christian Church, Savannah, GA. Upon completion of high school, she attended Armstrong Junior college, Savannah, for one year before transferring to Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA, from which she received her Bachelor's degree in 1943. In 1946, she entered Duke University Divinity School from which she received the Master of Religious Education degree. At Duke she met her husband-to-be, whom she married on August 26, 1948.



Mrs. Royal was an accomplished pianist and organist and a gifted vocalist, talents which she used to the glory of God in the churches served by her husband across North Carolina and in Suffolk, VA. In retirement, she continued to serve Clarkton United Methodist Church as organist until the Sunday before she entered the hospital where she suffered the stroke that ended her ministry of music.



For more than her talents and accomplishments, she will be remembered for her beautiful Christian spirit which endeared her to all who knew her.



Visitation will be on Monday, January 30, from 6-8 p.m. at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. The funeral service will be held at Clarkton United Methodist Church, 9050 US Hwy. 701 South, Clarkton, NC on Tuesday, January 31, at 2:00 p.m.



In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to: Lower Cape Fear Hospice, PO Box 1844, Elizabethtown, NC 28337 or Clarkton United Methodist Church, PO Box 744 Clarkton, NC 28433.