[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1188]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE AND WORK OF BISHOP RANDY BROWN ROYAL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2015

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and remember my 
good friend and a cornerstone of eastern North Carolina, Bishop Randy 
Brown Royal, a resident of Greenville, North Carolina who was called to 
be with God on Sunday, July 26, 2015 at the age of 63.
  Bishop Royal was born on January 6, 1952, in Craven County in New 
Bern, North Carolina to George Emerson and Sarah Louise Royal. He spent 
his formative years being educated in the Craven County School system 
and later attended Shaw University in Raleigh where he earned a 
Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Religion and a Master's degree in 
Divinity.
  Following his matriculation at Shaw, Bishop Royal attended my alma 
mater of North Carolina Central University in Durham and earned a 
Master's Degree in Psychology. He completed his education by attaining 
a Doctoral degree in Religion and Clinical Psychology from the 
Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse School of Religion in 
1979.
  Bishop Royal served as pastor in many churches throughout his career, 
including New Greenleaf Church of Christ in Goldsboro from 1973 until 
1978 and Philippi Church of Christ in Greenville, North Carolina 
beginning in 1982. Under Bishop Royal's leadership, Philippi Church of 
Christ has expanded several times to accommodate the growing number of 
parishioners which now tops 2,500. Just last year, Bishop Royal 
celebrated his 36th Pastoral anniversary.
  In addition to his service as a pastor, Bishop Royal was also a 
community activist and dedicated public servant in Pitt County, North 
Carolina. He served as a Pitt County Commissioner and on the board of 
many local organizations, including the Pitt County United Way, Pitt 
County Health Department and Pitt County Memorial Hospital. Bishop 
Royal also worked with the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
  Bishop Royal is survived by his three adult children Bryan, Onica, 
and Stephanie; three brothers, Rev. Daniel Royal, Rev. George J. Royal, 
and Erroll Royal; four sisters, Rev. Barbara Davis, Brenda Middleton, 
Vonshelia Bacon, and Cathy Bacon Lyons; and six grandchildren and three 
great-grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, Bishop Randy Brown Royal meant so much to so many 
people. His lasting contributions to his church family as Bishop and to 
his community and its citizens as County Commissioner will always be 
remembered. His community, our state of North Carolina, and our great 
nation are better because of Bishop Randy Royal.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our deepest condolences 
to the family of Bishop Randy Brown Royal, his congregation, and his 
community.

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