Margaret Charles Royal

Margaret (Marguerite Kate)Kelley Charles-Royal was born on March 23,1930 in Bishopville Lee County,South Carolina to James "Buster Kelley son of William Kelly and Mary(Phillips) and Charlotte Leila Jean (Ballard)daughter of Monroe Ballard and Elizabeth (Brown). Margaret was orphaned at eleven after the death of her father when she was two years old and her mother when she was age eleven. The only child to her parents and first grandchild of Monroe and Elizabeth Ballard,Margaret was left in the care of her maternal grandmother,Liz. In March 1944,at the age of 13,with the permission of her maternal grandmother,Margaret married James Charles in Bishopville,South Carolina. Concerned for her beautiful,orphaned,granddaughter,Liz told Margaret to have "lot of children so she would never be lonely." Enjoying a fruitful marriage,and honoring her grandmother's dying wish,the young couple's family quickly increases by four sons: James Jr.,Willie"Bubbles",Robert"Bobbie",and Frank "Ricky." By the time she reached 21,Margaret and James Charles welcomed their fifth child and first daughter,Ellaree Charles into the world. All five children were born in South Carolina. In early adulthood,James and Margaret were ordained deacon and deaconess at Gum Springs Baptist Church,in Gum Springs,South Carolina,before moving the family north. In pursuit of happiness,they moved their growing family to Philadelphia,Pennsylvania in 1953 "Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.." Ps. 125:5a. James gladly helped Margaret keep the promise to her grandmother and the family rapidly expanded to 12 children,with the addition of Clyde,Melvin"Jackie",Theresa,Annette,Ronald"Ronnie",Beverly and Barry over the next tewlve years. As a mother of 12,Margaret acquiesced in knowing she honored the commitment to her grandmother,Liz. After caring for her family as a domestic engineer,Margaret enjoyed a satisfying career as a Personal Care Assistant with Lynda and Steward Resnick,Entrepreneurs. Upon retirement in May 1999,Margaret and Edward moved to Richmond,Virginia to enjoy the fruits of their labor. As her physical and mental health gradually declined,Margaret became homebound. Her body was weak,but her spirit was willing and desiring to be fed by God's word. Many of her days and nights were blessed by the spiritual songs,devotions,prayers as well as words of encouragement through cards or messages sent from the Living Water ladies prayer group,devoted goddaughter,Alease Johnson,children,and her Cornerstone family. Margaret and Edward enjoyed 42 wonderful years together. Prior to their marriage,the couple accepted Christ as their personal Savior and later,Margaret joined Cornerstone Baptist Church,by proxy of her daughter,Annette Flowers. Their lives and marriage exemplified God's plan for a man and woman joined together in holy matrimony. As the aged woman,she taught young ladies of several generations to be chaste,keepers of their homes,love their husbands and always trust God. She was blessed by God as her husband Edward,showed himself a pattern of good works,I in gravity and sincerity,demonstrating the true meaning of "til death do we part" as promised in their marriage vows. Margaret was a home,lying in bed,as she stretched forth her arms to heaven and entered into eternal rest. She was surrounded by her caregivers and loving husband,Edward,dedicated,daughter Ellaree Charles,attentive and devoted daughter,Annette Flowers,faithful friend and goddaughter Alease Johnson,supportive,son-in-law,Ray,grandson Garland,his wife Kaleeta,mother-in-lw,Sheila and grandson,Walter. Family members gone on before and ready to receive her in heaven were Margaret's parents James "Buster Kelley and Charlotte Leila Jean Ballard ;grandparents,William Kelly and Mary(Phillips),Monroe Ballard and Elizabeth(Brown) and five sons:Willie Charles,Robert Lee Charles,Frank Charles,Melvin Cornelius Charles and Barry Charles. To celebrate her life and wonderful memories Margaret leave behind: her loving and devoted husband,Edward Royal;seven children; James Charles,Jr.(Laura),Ellaree Charles,Clyde Charles(Mary),Theresa Smith(Irving),Annette Flowers(Raynord J.),Ronald Charles,Beverly Spencer (Lionel);thirty grandchildren:Denise Charles,Donald Charles,Kenny Charles, Willie Charles,Russell Hill,Robert Hill,DeShawn Fuller,Patricia Rice,Keesha Smalls(Emanuel),Terrance Roland Mungin,Cassandra Mungin,Aisha Singleton,Natasha Charles,Felicia Charles,Tekia Charles,Jamal Charles.Michael Alexander,Ebony Charles-Woods,Sabrina Charles-Woods,Garland Tyrone Anderson,Jr. (Kaleeta),Raynord K. Flowers(Rashelle),Raheem,Saleema,Kaleem,Andrew Brian Blue,Shaunteya Spencer,Erica Spencer;twenty-four great grandchildren,two great-great grandchildren;devoted and faithful goddaughter,Alease Johnson;ex-hushand,friend and father of her children,James Charles,Sr. and a host of other relatives and friends

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Margaret Charles Royal

March 23, 1930 - August 4, 2012