Royal Brown, Sr.

HIS Trumpet sounded, white Lillies of the Valley perked up glistening to light a path in the Green Pasture, a Host of Angels sang Hallelujah, Love Ones joyously danced guiding Royal to walk closer toward the glorious LIGHT, as the Gates of Heaven peeled opened greeting a Servant of The Great I AM, a Restored Soul, who feared no evil, Royal's anointed head was mercifully comforted and crowned, Royal's heart ran over with LOVE, as The Author and The Finisher ushered Royal to eternal PEACE, to live in a new Mansion, the HOUSE OF THE LORD.

Deacon Royal Sterling Brown, Sr., of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Midlothian,Virginia, unexpectedly transitioned from the physical plane to the spiritual realm, Wednesday, November 16, 2016.

Royal Sterling Brown, Sr., was born December 16, 1921, to Edna Louise Taylor Brown and Major Wryling Brown of Powhatan County, Virginia [Huguenot District], as one of eighteen (18) children of which only eight (8) grew to adulthood.

Royal is predeceased by a noble, dedicated wife of sixty-three (63) years, Queen Isabel Thornton Brown,(2010) and seven of his siblings: Henry Edward Brown, Powhatan, Va.(1930s); Mariah Louise Brown Driver, Silversprings, Md.(1969); Donald Sherwood Brown, New Haven, Conn.(1980s); Jesse Ford Brown, Richmond, Va.(2002); Mary Jane Brown Jackson, Richmond, Va.(2003); and John Herbert Brown, Topeka, Kansas,(2016).

Royal enlisted in the U. S. Army, in 1943, as an E1 in the 92nd Division & 366th Infantry of 1898 Engineers, Company A, which was attached to to the U. S. Air Force's 15th Fighter Battalion, known as the Tuskegee Airmen. "Our mission was to build airplane runways."

After his military stint, he obtained training for his professional barber's license, from Turpin's Barbering & Cosmetology School [Richmond, 1948]. He retired The Barber Shop in 2015, at age 93.

Out of tragic circumstances, Royal became the surrogate son also of John Herbert Bentley, of Hallsboro,Va., an insurance writer for the Richmond Home and Beneficial Life Insurance Company. At the age of ten, Royal became the stock boy, mail handler, later the cashier, the grocery deliverer, and the buyer for Henry and Alice Page's General Merchandise Store [Old Hundred Road], for whom he worked for twenty-six years, until it closed; and maintained his surrogate son relationship until their deaths.

Royal was employed by the Richmond-Fredericksburg-Potomac Railroad Company [RF&P] as a mail reader and a baggage porter. He retired from Department of Defense Supply Center [Bellwood] as a mail carrier. After an official retirement, he continued to work in local grocery stores, to be active, to mingle, and to stay healthy: IGA [Powhatan]; Ukrops at Sycamore Square [Midlothian]; and he drove the seniors' van for the Capital Area on Aging [Powhatan].

Royal is survived by one brother, Benjamin F. Brown, Sr. (Carolina), Bronx, NY. Royal Sterling leaves a strong legacy of family to forever cherish his memory. Children: Edna B. Francis (Thomas) North Chesterfield, Va.; Joyce B. Hobson, (*Charles) Hampton, Va.; Royal S. Brown, Jr. Powhatan, Va.; Jane B. Piper (Arthur), Potomac Mills, Va. Grandchildren: Wynter L. Hobson, Hampton, Va.; Brian K. Hobson (Delcenia), Hampton, Va.; Kimberly B. Williams, Glen Allen, Va.; Endi N. Piper, Mitchellville, Md.; Tyrone B.Francis (Leah), Richmond, Va.; Todd A. Francis (Quanda), Brooklyn, NY; Wade D. Piper (Nishelle) Leesburg, Va.; Rahmel R. Brown, Powhatan, Va.; and Brandi J. Piper, Silver Springs, Md. Great-grandchildren: Julius Williams, II. & Kamryn D. Williams, Glen Allen, Va.; Isaiah C. Francis & Kennedy I. Francis; Richmond, Va; Madison A. Francis, Christian B. Francis, & Sierra Sykes-Francis, Brooklyn, NY; Iva G. Hobson & Bret S. Hobson, Hampton, Va.; and Landon S. Piper, Leesburg, Va.; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral Service will be Saturday, November 26, 2016, at 11:00 am, Mimms Funeral Home, 1827 Hull St., Richmond, Va. 23224.

Interment at Mount Calvary Baptist Church 2020 Red Lane Rd., Powhatan, Va. 23139

*deceased/divorced