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Obituary for Lillian Royster

Lillian  Royster
Lillian Thomas Royster, the 4th child of the late Alphonso and Dorsie Tuck Thomas, was born on December 31,1923 in Allensville Township, Roxboro NC. She grew up in a loving family on her family's farm with 7 siblings and 4 of her first cousins who spent lengthy periods of time living with them.
Lillian attended Person County and Granville County schools including Joe Toler High School and Mary Potter School until she moved to NYC in 1942 where she married her high school sweetheart Merrell Royster. While in NYC she worked for the USO(United Services Organization) making supplies for the military during World War II. She also worked as a hotel auditor while perfecting the art of sewing.The rest of her career was as a seamstress making designer dresses including wedding gowns. Several of these gowns were worn by family members during their weddings and her granddaughters who wore them to their formal events. During her time as a seamstress, she served as the local union representative for ILGWU(International Ladies Garment Workers Union) for years as well as being a member of her local chapter of the NAACP.
Socially she was involved with the Daughter Elks and Tent organizations as well as the Handy Travelers Club and Central Nyack Senior Citizens Club.

In addition to being a caretaker for her mother in law Daisy Royster, her mother Dorsie Thomas, and Aunts Estelle, Edna and Artensie, her door was never closed to any family member needing food or a place to stay.
Lillian joined Vernon Hill Baptist Church at an early age and converted to Catholicism later in life where she joined St Ann's Church and was a member of the Rosary Society until her health failed.

Lillian had a passion for flower and vegetable gardening and was always proud to show her vegetables at state fairs and local festivals. She spent many summers sharing her plentiful bounty of vegetables and flowers with family and friends who stopped by.
Lillian also enjoyed trips to the casinos and bus rides to various NY, NJ, and PA resorts. Later in life when she could no longer travel as much, she enjoyed watching the deer, woodchucks, chipmunks, and wild turkeys play in her yard from her front porch and kitchen window.

Survivors include her daughter Louise Williams of Durham NC, sisters Clarine Thorpe, (Central Nyack, NY), Dorothy Estelle Davis(Oxford, NC),and Eva Vines(Congers,NY) Sisters in law Olivia Thomas(South Nyack,NY) and Glovenia Thomas (Sparkill,NY) Grandchildren, Sincerus Kingsly(Rayvan)(Raleigh, NC),Yolanda Williams(Nyack, NY),
Melissa D. Williams(Durham, N.C), Roy Williams(Davesha)(Durham, NC) and Chalilah Williams(Durham, NC). Five Great-Grandchildren, Destinee White(Elizabeth City, NC), Cameron A. Williams(Durham, NC),
Naszier Williams and Aaliyah Williams(Durham, NC), and Ayla Rose Davis(Durham, NC). Lillian also had 29 nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and best friends including Marie Carter, and Nellie Dumas.

She was preceded in death by her siblings Ullysses Thomas, Edna Mae Bullock(Quilley), Jack Thomas(Glovenia), Roy Thomas(Olivia) and a best friend Odessa Peaks.

On Saturday January 25, 2020 at the age of 96 Lillian peacefully passed into eternity at Nyack Hospital with family at her bedside.

The Royster Family offers it’s deepest appreciation for the comfort and care afforded us in the loss of our Mother, Sister, Grandmother, Great- Grandmother and beloved Aunt, Great Aunt and Cousin.
Special Appreciation is afforded to Phyllis Swann(Niece),Regine Coombs(niece),Olivia Thomas (sister- in- law), Rhonda Thomas(Niece) and Arlene(Niece)and Leon Strand(Nephew) who were at her bedside daily.
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