Teresa M Royale

Born Teresa Mae Millet in Chicago, IL on March 10th in 1928 to James Millet and Bertha Bourgeois, of Creole descent from New Orleans, LA, Teresa was the last surviving sibling of Kermit, “Jimmy”, Nellie (Williams), Mitchel and Joyce (Winston Michaux). Educated in Chicago, Teresa began her high school career at the age of 12 at Lucy Flowers Technical High School for Girls;[,] one of the only integrated high schools in Chicago, and then went off to Loyola University in Chicago, where she met and then married Leslie Alvin Royale. They bought a home in a modest Chicago neighborhood, and soon after had three children, Fabienne (Faye), Michael (Mike), and Drucilla (Drudy). Trailblazing from her hometown of Chicago for her husband Leslie’s career opportunity in broadcasting, they relocated to the East coast in the1950’s, made a home in Baltimore, MD on the Westside of town in Edmondson Village, and later had another child, Geraldine (Geri).

She first joined the St. Joseph Monastery parish community in the neighborhood and advocated for a Catholic education for her children even amidst a tumultuous time of racial injustice; and later joined St. Bernadine’s Catholic Church.

Teresa soon began a long-lasting career with the Internal Revenue Services in a position as Auditor, and then moved to the IRS Headquarters Office in Washington DC, where she collaborated as part of a regional team of Program Analysts traveling throughout the country, serving the federal government for more than 35 years.

After retirement, she moved to Columbia MD to care lovingly for her ailing husband Leslie (who later passed in 1986, and then spent many years providing loving and nurturing childcare for her grandkids. Teresa then embarked upon a second career as an administrative assistant working for a local family-owned business in Laurel for about 25 years. The Newbergers became like a second family to her. During this time, she also began volunteering weekly for the Oblate Sisters of Providence for the canonization of Mother Mary Lange, where she became good friends with Sister Mary Virginie Fish, OSP, and spent countless hours sewing costumes for various plays at St. Francis Academy, and making aprons for fundraisers. She looked forward to visiting the sisters, and enjoyed the occasional lunch with them in the cafeteria.

Teresa, affectionately known as Ra-Ra (Ra), Mommy, Mama, Aunt Teresa and Mrs. T from her later co-workers, was always known for her generosity, kindness, compassion and loving heart. Close friends and family admired her savvy smarts, brilliant mind, stubborn disposition, wise council, sense of humor, and infectious laugh. In her golden years, she lived life to the fullest. She spent every holiday and countless birthdays celebrating with her family and continued to enjoy the freedom of travel whether it was visiting her eldest sister Nellie in Arizona, or experiencing unparalleled excursions with her sister Joyce and other childhood friends to Hawaii, Alaska, London, Paris, the wine country in Napa, and even a Delta Queen Cruise along the Mississippi.

Teresa passed away peacefully after 95 years of life surrounded by family on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. She leaves a lifetime of cherished memories to four children: Fabienne Royale Larkins, Drucilla Davis Pollard, Michael James Royale, and Geraldine Royale Byrd; seven grandchildren, Dominique Maria Davis, Edward Louis Larkins, Damon Royale Pollard, Michael Royale (Lorena), Mackinley Robert Byrd, Tyler Isabella Byrd, and Dawson Anthony Byrd; two great grandchildren, Logan Royale and Isabelle Teresa Royale; four sons-in-law - Eddie Larkins, Herman Davis (deceased), Leonard Pollard, and Carlton Byrd; one daughter-in-law, Cathy Royale; her first cousin Prescott “Duces” Berry, and a host of many devoted nieces and nephews, godchildren, family and close friends from coast to coast.

A receiving of friends for Teresa will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Witzke Funeral Homes Inc., 5555, TWIN KNOLLS ROAD, Columbia, Maryland 21045, followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM.

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