Jimmy Novell Royal

Jimmy Novell Royal, 79 of Rocky Mount, passed away in Benevento, Italy on July 1, 2024. Jim, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was born on June 3, 1945, to the late Novell and Virginia Jernigan Royal. A lover of people, Jim was retired from Cardinal Health where he worked in sales for 40 years. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970. Jim went on to graduate from East Carolina University in 1972. An annual member of the Pirates Club, he loved his ECU pirates and enjoyed cheering for them in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on football Saturdays. Since 1983, he has been a faithful servant of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Those that loved him knew him by many names including Dad, Jimmy, Jimbo, Uncle Jim, and lovingly by his grandchildren as Baboo. We will remember him for his quiet and gentle spirit. His love and patience left a lasting impression, and we aspire to embody the lessons he taught us. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Morriss Royal; his daughters, Jennifer Royal Norman and her husband, Paul, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and his daughter Mary Hunter Royal Ricks, and her husband, Greg, also of Wake Forest; five grandchildren, Mary Frances Norman, Turner James Norman, Benjamin Hunter Cooper, Jacob Thomas Ricks, Caroline Grace Ricks, and her fiancée Alex Kinlaw. He is also survived by his sister, Angela Royal Scott and her husband, David, of Hanover, Pennsylvania, his sister-in-law, Laura Morriss Willard, and her husband Dick, of Apex, North Carolina, and his sister-in-law, Sarah Morriss Raby, and her husband Jack, of Fayetteville, Tennessee, along with many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 on Sunday, July 14th at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church with the Reverend Les Carpenter officiating. The family will receive friends in the Commons following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the St. Andrew’s food pantry, 301 S. Circle Drive, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.