Guy Royal Jr

Once upon a time, on July 31, 1953, on a very hot day in Lake Village, AR, Miss Louise Banks, a young girl, had a baby she named Guy Royal, Jr., after the father.  Since Louise was still a minor and Guy was born in her grandmother’s house, where she also lived and had been born, Louise entrusted the care of her baby to her grandmother, whom she affectionately called “Mama Susie.”

Mama Susie helped Louise raise little Guy (then called “June,” short for “Junior”), while Louise went to work and when Louise eventually left Arkansas to come to Chicago, she came back to get Guy to bring him back with her and then the rest of his life began in Chicago, IL.

While growing up in Chicago, Guy attended Birney Elementary School and both Creiger and Crane high schools and then joined the Army National Guard in 1978, serving as a Military Police Officer (MP) until his honorable discharge in 1984.

Since that time, Guy worked various jobs, including as a railroad worker and as an armed Security Officer for the Chicago Housing Authority.  Guy was also a fantastic cook and everybody loved his souse (the hot and the mild), chitterlings, cakes, cobblers, and especially his ribs and hot tamales!

Guy stayed close to his mother and brother Kenny through and until their untimely deaths in 2007 and 2018, respectively, but shared a very special bond with his baby sister, Susan, whom he had looked after and cared for from the time she was a baby.  Guy encouraged Susan to learn how to read (especially stories beginning with “Once upon a time” they would read together), and learn how to write well before she turned 5 years old and he never, ever, allowed her to fail when she struggled with Math in elementary school.  Guy’s motivation for his young sister to get a solid education is also the driving force for her to later become an Educator after practicing Law and an owner of schools where other children can become immersed in a great education with caring mentors, just like she had experienced.

Guy continued to care for Susan until a few days before his death, when he called her to check on her, affectionately calling her “babe” and “sugar” and reminding her to “be good” as he always did since she was a little girl.

Sadly, in the very early morning hours on August 11, 2020, Guy took his last breath and was called home to Paradise to be reunited with his mother, brother, and other loved ones who had gone before him.  Guy leaves behind to mourn his death his little sister Susan and her husband Daniel in Washington, DC, a very special cousin and confidant, Ms. Phyllis Whitehead in Chicago, IL, another cousin and favorite fishing buddy, Mr. Herbert Whitehead, Jr. (Mary) in Bellwood, IL, another special cousin, Mr. Terry Crudup, in Sturgis, KY, a very loving cousin Guy grew up with named Ms. Christine Johnson in Chicago, IL, one remaining Aunt, Ms. Dasie Crudup, in Sturgis, KY, three good and faithful buddies--Ms. Mary McNelty and her husband Michael in Chicago, IL and Mr. Eddie Brown in Chicago, IL, and one other very special friend, whom truly loved him dearly and whom he truly loved-- Ms. Earnestine Thomas, in Porter, TX, and a host of other relatives and good friends whom all loved and cherished Guy throughout his life.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Guy Royal Jr, please visit our floral store.