Jeanecia Royal

Ms. Jeanecia F. Lawson Royal was born February 18, 1957, in Atlanta, Texas, to Mr. J.P. Lawson and Mrs. Excell Lawson. She was the sixth child born to this union and the twin sister of Jeanetta F. Lawson. Jeanecia received her formal education through the Atlanta School District.

She accepted Christ at an early age at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. In adulthood, she united with New Hope Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Moderator D.A. Hill, where she remained a lifelong and faithful member.

Ms. Royal was employed with Daingerfield Independent School District for thirty-six years, from 1981 until her retirement in 2017. She also worked for twenty-five years, from 2001 until 2026, at Dairy Queen, which later became Hawkins Restaurant, under the ownership of Mr. James D. Hawkins.

In 1979, Jeanecia married Mr. Royce Royal. They shared thirty years of marriage before his passing. Ms. Royal was a faithful Christian, loving wife, sister, and aunt. She was devoted to the Lord, her church family, her friends, and her community.

She was preceded in death by her parents, J.P. and Excell Lawson; her husband, Royce Royal; two sisters, Regetta Hodge and Charlene Bowden; one brother, Wilbert Cornish; and one niece, Sharnette Lawson.

Those left to cherish her loving memory are her sisters, Ruby Jewel Reese, Deborah A. Lawson, and Jeanetta F. Lawson; sisters-in-law, Bennie Smith and husband, Arthur, Clemuel Forte, Deborah Traylor, and Diann Royal Williams; nieces, Toni Bowden, Phyllis Bowden, La’Keisha Jackson, Shaunta Holmes, and Martie Smith; nephews, Carnell Smith and Roderick Smith; special friend, Carolyn Whitmore; and a host of extended family, church family, and dear friends.