Virginia (Sumrall) Royes

Virginia S. Royes, 89, of Center, Texas, passed away on June 28, 2024, surrounded by loved ones in Nacogdoches, Texas.  She was born on January 16, 1935, in Laurel, Mississippi, to the late William Washington Sumrall and Ollie Mae (Bush) Sumrall. 

Funeral service will be held at 2PM on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at Mangum Funeral Home, with Bro. Porter Brewer officiating.

Graveside service will be held at 10AM on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Springhill Cemetery in Laurel, Mississippi.

It was mid-January of a tough year, 1935. But one ray of sunshine appeared for William Washington Sumrall and his wife, the former Ollie Mae Bush. On the 16th, a daughter was born, Virginia Rose Sumrall. Now, William and Ollie Mae already had a family waiting for her with 5 siblings, but Virginia, or Ginny as she came to be called, showed promise from the beginning. 

Graduating from George S. Gardiner High School in 1952, she won a full scholarship from the Masonite Corporation and attended the University of Southern Mississippi.

But her life changed when she met a young serviceman named John Royes, and a lifelong partnership was formed. College, an engineering degree for John and two children for them both, Karen and Andrew, shaped their lives from that point on. 

Ginny devoted her life to her family and her faith. She also enjoyed handwork like knitting, crocheting, needlepoint and cross stitch and even crafted small baskets from long leaf pine. 

Her beloved husband John died 2 and a half years ago, and Ginny joined him on Friday, June 28th. She is survived by her son Andrew, daughter Karen and her husband Roger Gray and granddaughter, Mary Brigid Gray.

Virginia is preceded in death by her loving husband, John Royes Jr; parents, William and Ollie Mae Sumrall; brothers, Joe Sumrall, Frank Sumrall; sisters, Juanita Johnson, Rachel Evans, and Rebecca Jackson.