Bessie Mae Royals "Centenarian" Obituary (1910 - 2018)

Mrs. Bessie Mae Royals was born on December 15, 1910 in Alachua, Florida and departed from this life on March 9, 2018. Mrs. Royals' parents were George and Everlina Simmons. She was one of six children. Mrs. Royals was united in holy matrimony to the late Mr. Samuel Royals. In the 1930's the Royals moved from Florida to Connecticut, later to relocate to the Lower East Side of New York City. To this union three children were born, Franklin, Laura, and Eleanor. Mrs. Royals later migrated with her children to Ossining, New York. Mrs. Royals was employed as a cafeteria worker for Horn & Hardarts Restaurant, she was an insurance broker for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and she also worked for Ossining Children's Center, which was her favorite job, until she was 93. Mrs. Royals was known there affectionately as "Grandma Bessie." Besides Mrs. Royals' working career, she also had ties to her community. She belonged to the Golden Ages of Ossining. She was a devoted member of Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church, where she served on the Pastors Aid, until her ailments caused her to no longer attend. Mrs. Royals was a devoted Christian and spoke about God's grace daily. Mrs. Royals is survived by her loving daughter, Laura M. Shuler; two sons-in-law, Samuel Shuler, Jr. and Ollie Holmes, Sr.; six grandchildren, Lisa Royals Edwards, Bettileanor Shuler Gray, Camille Holmes, Eric Shuler, Linda Holmes-Evans and James Cashmere; twenty great-grandchildren, Joi Gladman, Joseph Evans III, Jasmine Edwards, Nicole Chantel Gray, Khadijah Gladman, Ollie Holmes IV, Ollie Holmes V, Ollie Holmes VI, Ollie Holmes VII, James Edwards III, Ajah Timms, Erica Shuler, Jayda Robinson, Devante Brown Shuler, Janiyah Shuler, Tanae Johnson, Jamie Cashmere, Lindsey Cashmere, Brian Cashmere and Ryan Cashmere; five great great-grandchildren, Fredrick Brown Jr., Shaniya Evans, Princeton Vaughn-Blair Gooding, Ollie Holmes VIII and Zion Cashmere; and a host of nieces, nephews, other loved ones and friends. Mrs. Royals was predeceased by her husband, Samuel; her son, Franklin; her daughter, Eleanor; her grandson, Ollie Holmes, Jr.; and her siblings, Ruby, Anna, George, James, and Taylor.