Roxy Royal, “Pillar of the Community,” Laid to Rest

NEWBURGH – Roxy Royal, a beloved member of the Newburgh community, was laid to rest recently The 92-year-old activist passed away on November 4.

Ms. Royal, a mother of six, grandmother to 14, and great-grandmother to seven, served for several years as chair of the City of Newburgh Democratic Committee. She remained active in politics on the local and national levels and had her own opinion of Donald Trump. She told local media during his presidency that he was “just not good for the United States.”

Mayor Torrance Harvey said Ms. Royal made an everlasting mark on Newburgh.
“She will be very-well missed. She was a pillar in our community and a very active participant. She spoke up for a lot of different issues, particularly for the youth,” he said.

Ms. Royal began her community service as the first African American secretary with the PTA at the Montgomery Street School in Newburgh. Later when her family moved and her children attended the Broadway School, she joined the PTA and became the first African American president of that organization.

In addition to her political activities, Ms. Royal created the city’s anti-drug demonstration project and worked for 15 years as a social worker assistant at Cornerstone Family Healthcare.