Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Jul 20, 1927 – Dec 12, 2025
Billy Williamson Royal, of Chapel Hill, NC, died at 4:45 a.m., December 12, 2025 at the age of 98. He died peacefully at home with his wife of 46 years, Nancy Earl, and several of his children around him. Billy was born in Salemburg, North Carolina on July 20, 1927, to Ranby and Carrie Royal. He...
Read MoreI rented the basement of Dr Royal & Nancy's house from '82 to '85. A thoughtful, kind & gentle man. He liked talking about Sampson Co/ Salemburg & was interested that I also had family from there. We watched the NC State National championship game in '83 & although neither one of us were big State fans, we both unabashedly pulled for the Pack. I'm very sorry for your loss.
Stewart Butler
January 23, 2026 | Friend
May he rest in the Peace of our Lord. We worked together at Cherry Hospital and at the Spruill Building at DDH. He attended my brother Jack's wedding in 1987. His memory will be eternal with us.
Khalil S. Tanas MD, DLFAPA.
January 14, 2026 | Work
Nancy, Please accept my heartfelt condolences on your loss. I had the good fortune of meeting Billy once when you both visited my home. He was delightful and it was a privilege to make his acquaintance. His contributions to patient care were significant and exemplary. My sympathies go to you and Emily. With sincere and best regards, Joseph DeVeaugh-Geiss
Joseph DeVeaugh-Geiss
January 14, 2026 | Other
Dear Royal family, The NC Psychiatric Association would like to express our deepest sympathy for the loss of Dr. Billy Royal. He led an extraordinary life and will be missed in the psychiatric community. He was a Life Member of the American Psychiatric Association and the NC Psychiatric Association. He also served as President of the NCPA in 1977. We appreciate all he contributed to the psychiatry profession and citizens of our state.
NC Psychiatric Assoc.
January 14, 2026 | Work
