Charles "C.A." Alton Royal, Jr.

Salemburg

Charles Alton Royal, Jr. (C.A.) went to see his Lord on Saturday, June 10, 2023, surrounded by family at Cape Fear Valley Hospital.  C.A. was born on March 30, 1930, in Salemburg to Charles Alton Royal, Sr. and Naomi Butler Royal.  He was a devoted husband of 63 years to Faye Bullard Royal, who he met and fell in love with at Louisburg College in 1949.

C.A. was the proprietor of C.A. Royal Hardware Store in Salemburg, which was established by his grandfather, Charles Simeon Royal, in 1890. It is the second oldest continually operating business in Sampson County and exists today as Royal Trustworthy Hardware.

C.A. was a faithful member of Salemburg Baptist Church, serving as a deacon and member of countless church committees. He was a man of deep faith and active Christian witness who was not ashamed sharing the Gospel.  He handed out evangelical tracks wherever he went and would offer to pray with strangers.  He was active in the community serving on the Salemburg town council and the Sampson County Economic Development Commission.

In his later years, he discovered a love of bluegrass music and would travel to Roanoke, Virginia with close family and friends to listen to live performances and dance.  He was an avid food critic who loved to take road trips to his favorite restaurants.  He drove to Carolina Beach for Britt’s Donuts, and he drove to Meadow for coconut pie, where the staff at Meadow Restaurant came to know him after he started going into the kitchen to place his orders.  He loved to make a good joke and loved to laugh.  He was a lifelong golfer with two holes-in-one.  He insisted that his children and grandchildren take a beach vacation together every year so that he could spend time together.  He always made time for his family and friends.

C.A. was preceded in death by his wife Faye, his brother Stephen Douglas Royal, and daughter Gloria Royal Reaves.

C.A. is survived by his children, Alta Royal Starling and husband, Bill; Wanda Royal Underwood and husband, Phil; Charles Alton Royal III and wife, Kim; son-in-law, Mike Reaves; and sister-in-law, Patti Corriher Royal.

He is also survived by ten grandchildren:  Ingrid Reaves Smith and husband, Bryan; Ashley Reaves Dade and husband Eric; Joel Starling and wife, Annette; Will Parker and wife, Leah; Britt Starling; Karen Parker Isabell and husband, Andy; Barrett Royal Barton and husband, Stephen; Charles (Chip) Alton Royal IV; Anna and Faith Underwood; and ten great grandchildren: Tyler and Jordan Smith, Emma and John Dade, Elizabeth and Will Starling, Kayden and Sydney Faye Parker, Anna Hayes Isabell, and Eloise Barton.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the caregivers who provided wonderful personal care that allowed him to live comfortably in his home over the past eight years:  Alisa Murchison, Beatrice Fowler, Wade and Janie Pittman, Val Rice, Constance Stewart, LaWanda Coley, Audrey Johnson, Marmetrius Barksdale, Gwen Graham, Carolyn Chestnut, and Ann Cox. Each of you have been and will remain extended members of our family.  Gratitude is expressed for the care provided by the staff of Bethesda Health Care Facility.

Our thanks to his church family and community who visited him and brought him news from and around Salemburg.  Your visits were uplifting and brought lots of joy.

The celebration of his life will be held at 3:00 PM, Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Salemburg Baptist Church with Reverend Drew Bolin, Reverend Tom Wagoner and Reverend Chris Butler officiating. The burial will follow at Salemburg Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Salemburg Baptist Church Family Life Center from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to Salemburg Baptist Church, 300 North Main Street, Salemburg, NC 28385.

Services entrusted to Butler Funeral Home, 401 W Roseboro Street, Roseboro, NC 28382.