Josephine Royster

MS. JOSEPHINE ROYSTER, daughter of the late Harvey Hike Royster and the late Lillian Royster, was born on April 25, 1935 in Oxford, North Carolina. She departed this life on May 21, 2013. Ms. Royster was educated in the Granville County Schools in Oxford, North Carolina. She relocated to Baltimore, Maryland at the early age of eighteen. She received her degree from the Baltimore City Community College. She was employed and retired as a registered nurse from the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Although Joe never conceived any children of her own, her mother brought her sister, Linda Royster, to Baltimore at the tender age of fourteen, and Joe raised her baby sister as her own. As such, Joe was the only maternal grandmother that Linda’s children: Maria, Angela and Joseph (Dale) had ever known. She was the matriarch of the family. Joe was a devoted Christian and she loved the Lord with all of her heart and soul. She was a founding and lifelong member of the Mt. Zion Apostolic Faith Church. She was proud of her church and her pastor, founder and Bishop, Edith A. Mangum. Bishop Mangum was her mentor and hero. She loved her dearly. In addition to her love for her church and family, Joe loved being of good service to people. She loved doing domestic work for the Currans and Schelles and acknowledged the two, not as employers but extended family members. She loved them wholeheartedly. She also loved going to the farm, traveling, fishing, and going to the beach. Sandy Point was the kids and Joe’s weekend getaway. She leaves to cherish her memory: two sisters, Rosa Lee and Linda; nieces, Justine, Diane, Cynthia, Maria and Angela; nephew, Joseph (Dale); great-nieces, Wendy, Marian, Keisha, Tierra, Chardae (goddaughter), Tamika (goddaughter), Maria, Tyesha and Jaylah; great-nephews, Mark, Donté, Daryl, Harvey Jr., Johnathan, Harry (godson), André and Joseph Jr. (Lil Dale); great-great-niece, Neriah; great-great-nephew, Ramses; goddaughters, Lisa, Danielle and Yvette; godsons, Shawn Sean and Craig; and a host of cousins and close friends. Preceding her in death are: her maternal grandparents, Lillian and Ike; paternal grandparents, Fanny and Gilbert; her mother, Lillian Royster; father, Harvey Royster; sisters, Mary and Lillian Bea; brothers, Harvey and James Thomas; and nephew, Harvey Sr.

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Josephine Royster

April 25, 1935 - May 21, 2013