Mr. Royal Eugene Miller, Sr. was born May 24, 1916 in Forsyth County, NC to the late Maggie and Riley Miller. He left this earthly life after a brief illness, at age 95, on October 13, 2011.
Royal grew up in Rural Hall and attended Atkins High School before beginning his career as a carpenter. He was married to the late Ethel Kimbrough and they had two children, Royal Miller Jr. and Mrs. Donna M. Golden. He was a member of St. James United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school and also served as the Sunday School Secretary before moving to Detroit, Michigan to pursue work. Royal spent many years in Detroit before returning permanently to Rural Hall in 1985 to assist his daughter during her extended illness. He continued to do work as a carpenter and loved to "piddle around" making gadgets or anything you would ask of him.
Royal was preceded in death by his parents and 13 of his 15 sisters and brothers.
He is survived by his devoted and loving children, Royal Miller, Jr. of San Francisco, CA, and Mrs. Donna M. Golden of the home; his treasured sister, Mrs. Zelner Miller, of Rural Hall; his grandchildren, Dedra Malloy (Gene); Royal Miller III (Maggie), Dana Golden, and Cierra Winn (Jesse); his great grandchildren, Brittany, Brooke and Bianca Malloy, Ivy Simone, Ezekial and Cougar Miller, Zara and Zachary Golden; special nieces and nephews, Alice Jean Allen, Delores and Doug Hailstock, Deborah Miller and Jean Johnson; and a host of other nieces, nephews, loving family members and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at St. James United Methodist Church, Rural Hall, NC with Rev. Dr. Paul F. Perkins, Sr. officiating. Interment will follow in St. James UMC Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 12:30pm until 1:00pm on Tuesday at the Church.