Lt.Col Craig Royston

Lt. Colonel Craig C. Royston, US Air Force, Retired, passed peacefully on to his eternal rest the evening of November 27, 2021, at the age of eighty-seven. As a USAF aircraft commander, instructor pilot, and flight examiner, he flew more than 50 missions from Guam, Thailand, and Vietnam in a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft.

Lt. Col. Royston trained or served at eleven Air Force Bases with the Strategic Air Command over 23 years, from which he retired in 1977. He then earned three education degrees from Mississippi College and taught in the Hinds County School System. In addition, he was a “gentleman farmer” and raised cattle on his farm in Hinds County. Craig and his wife of 61 years, Anna, have been active members of Morrison Heights Baptist Church since moving to Clinton, including working in the church nursery for over twenty years. He also led the Cub Scouts and Royal Ambassadors for many years. He was an active member in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Military Order of World Wars.

He is survived by his wife, Anna Majure Royston; his daughters, Margo Myrick (Will) of Westlake Village, CA; Rebecca Irish Hunt (Jim) of Winter Park, FL; Jennifer Parker (Sheldon) of Colorado Springs, CO; and his sons Craig of Mobile, AL; and Chadwick (Lindsay) of Houston, TX. He was also the proud grandfather of eight grandchildren: Anna, John (Nadia), Jordan, Casey, Emily (Andrew), Joshua, Jane, and Margaret, and one great-grandson, Jonah.

The family will welcome friends at Morrison Heights Baptist Church, 3000 Hampstead Blvd., Clinton, on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Lakewood Memorial Cemetery, 6011 Clinton Blvd., Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to Missions or Children’s Ministries at Morrison Heights Baptist Church would be welcome.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lakewoodfuneraljackson.com for the Royston family.