James Lee Royster

1944 - 2021

James Lee Royster
March 24, 1944 - August 5, 2021
Columbia, South Carolina - James Lee Royster, 77, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 5, 2021 after a hard-fought battle with heart disease.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, 125 Sparkleberry Lane, Columbia, with burial to follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia. The family will receive friends for visitation from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, August 9, 2021 at Dunbar Funeral Home, 3926 Devine Street, Columbia.
A native of Chesapeake, Va., Jim was born on March 24, 1944 to Elmo Spaulding Royster and Hortense Marion Royster. He was a devoted husband and father who always put his family first. He loved his family dearly and never missed a ballgame, track meet, dance recital, or school performance for any of his four children and his grandchildren. He was well known for his kindness, smile, and one-liners that made everyone laugh. He was a great story-teller who never met a stranger.
He was a long-time member of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church and served as an Elder of Building and Grounds and helped to coordinate the first ever Habitat for Humanity home built by the church. He graduated from Atlantic Christian College in 1971 and began a 40+ year career in construction building schools, office buildings, and retail businesses all across the state.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Joanne Royster Williams (Carroll) and brother, Robert Spencer Royster. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 54 years, Jane Mashburn Royster and his four children, Derek Scott Royster (Kelley) of Columbia, S.C., Christopher Todd Royster (Elana) of Augusta, Ga., Gregory James Royster of Columbia, S.C., and Elizabeth Royster Gaymon (Brandon Lee) of Columbia, S.C. Loving grandchildren include Austin Tyler Wurtz, Maryann Elizabeth Royster, Carson Leigh Royster, Matthew Schade McElroy, Jackson Christopher Royster, Joshua Scott McElroy, Hunter Lee Gaymon, Everett James Gaymon, Connor Joel Royster, and Hampton Charles Gaymon.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 190 Knox Abbott Drive, # 301, Cayce, SC 29033.
Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.