SALEMBURG — Mrs. Dorothy Allen Turlington Royal, died Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at the age of 103. She was born Dec. 7, 1908 on a farm in Sampson County near the town of Salemburg. Her parents were James Allen and Maude Parker Turlington. In June of 1933 she married Dr. Donnie Martin Royal and they were married for 68 years. Dr. Royal predeceased her in 2001.
She graduated from Salemburg High School in 1924. She graduated in 1928 from Meredith College with a music degree where her senior year she was elected May Queen. She also received a degree in English Education from State College now known as North Carolina State University. She taught school in Burgaw, in 1928-29 and Marshville, in 1931-32 before returning to Salemburg to marry Dr. Royal. She taught English and typing at Salemburg High School for several years.
Her vocational love was music. Dorothy organized the first choir at Salemburg Baptist Church where she played the organ and/or directed the choir for 40 plus years. She also organized a boy’s choir at the Salemburg Baptist Church. During the years she taught Sunday school classes for all ages.
In 1950 Dorothy helped organize the Sampson County Medical Alliance where she served in several different offices. She was elected president of the North Carolina Medical Alliance in 1957-1958.
Dorothy was known for her loving, kind spirit and her warm smile. She loved her Lord, family, friends and community. She made everyone feel special with her kind words. She loved to keep in touch with friends and family by writing letters or notes to them. She had a great love for books and often bought books for family and friends.
Though Dorothy had no children of her own, she had many children who loved her like a mother. You could tell that she was special to her former students by the way they stayed in touch with cards, letters, phone calls, and visits.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband; three brothers, E.T. Turlington, James Parker Turlington, and Paul Henry Turlington; and three sisters, Fannie Turlington Royal, Louise Turlington Maynard, and Martha Turlington Murray.
She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held at Salemburg Baptist Church on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 at 3 p.m. and the burial at Salemburg Baptist Church cemetery. The Rev. John Adams, her pastor, the Rev. Charles Royal, her nephew and theRev. Dr. Douglas Kelly, her cousin will officiate. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Salemburg Baptist Church, P.O. Box 537, Salemburg, NC 28385 or to the Dorothy Turlington Royal Scholarship, Meredith College, 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5298.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful caretakers for their love and loyalty over the past several years.
Arrangements are by Royal Hall -Funeral Home, Clinton.
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