Nathaniel Royal, Jr., 84, fulfilled his purpose, answered God's call and transitioned from labor to reward on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, after an extended illness.  He was the son of Nathaniel Royal, Sr. and Alice Perry Royal born on Thursday, February 2, 1939, in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the only son among six — sisters, Mildred Thomas, Doris Tolbert, Jean Folgle, Mae Quarterman and Lorrine Nixon. Lorrine is his only surviving sister.

Nathaniel was educated in the Duval County Public Schools, where he graduated from Stanton High School. Soon after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and served his country for nine and a half years. He completed Basic Airborne Training in Fort Benning (recently renamed Fort Moore), Georgia, and earned his Paratrooper Badge. Nathaniel served a tour of duty in Vietnam, where he was wounded. For his service, he earned the Vietnam Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. After returning from Vietnam, he became an Airborne PT instructor and traveled to 48 of 50 states, excluding North and South Dakota. While in the military, he also qualified as a Heavy Equipment Repair Technician.

Upon being honorably discharged from the Army, Nathaniel was employed as an installer and performed maintenance on clinical laboratory equipment along the East Coast. He later became an entrepreneur, cleaning commercial offices.

Nathaniel was a member of the Mount Zion Lodge #50 F & AM in Hackensack, New Jersey, and a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner.

He accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of the Redeemed Baptist Church, in Jacksonville. His service to God and ministry flourished throughout his adult life. He served as a deacon at Fort Mott Baptist Church, in the Bronx, New York, First Baptist Church, of Teaneck, New Jersey, and Mt. Zion Baptist Church, of Hackensack, New Jersey, before moving to Palm Coast, Florida. In 2003, Nathaniel and his wife, Bettie united with Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Palm Coast, where he was acknowledged to serve as a deacon, and Bettie became a deaconess. He was assigned leadership over the Gad Tribe and also served for a time as vice chair of the Deacon Ministry.

The Royals quickly became fixtures in the Palm Coast community, and Nathaniel was known across Flagler County as the deacon you could call anytime to fix and do mostly any job around the house. He took on these jobs whether the person could pay or not. At Mt. Calvary, he would often be asked to cook (especially fried fish) on such occasions as Men's Day weekend and Easter breakfast. Nathaniel also served for a time as church custodian. His generosity and eagerness to help did not go unrecognized. The men of Mt. Calvary honored him with the Man of the Year Award.

Nathaniel leaves to cherish his memory: his wife of forty-two years, Bettie Jean Royal; sons, Nathaniel Jones (Patricia), Maurice Queenman, Nateshawn Royal, Sr., Johnny Lee Byrd, Sr. (Gale); and daughter, Glince Royal; grandchildren, Kwatishea Dorsey, Jessica Jones, Natalie Jones, Ashontae McElveen, Ashonmir McElveen, Altirique McElveen, Nateshawn Royal, Jr., Isaiah Royal, Nehemiah Royal, Johnny Lee Byrd, Jr. and Essence Byrd. He was blessed with three great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Nathaniel is already missed by a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends, as well as his Mt. Calvary family.