Dorothy Royston Obituary

Dorothy Jean (Dotty) Turner Royston

January 17, 2025

Dorothy Jean (Dotty) Turner Royston, age 97, died January 18th, 2025. Dotty was born at Kings Mountain Memorial Hospital in Bristol, VA. on January 17, 1928. She was the daughter of the late Isabel Donaldson Turner and William Henry Turner, Jr. She was the widow of Paul Leonard Royston, Sr.

A longtime resident of Bristol, TN., she was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Bristol where she served as a Sunday school teacher for many years and as President of the Women of the Church. She was honored with an Honorary Life Membership in the Christian's Women's Club for service as Chairman of the Bristol chapter.

Dotty devoted her life to service in a variety of ways. She was a volunteer in the Bristol Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and served on the Executive Board of the Bristol YWCA. She was also active in youth groups, serving as a Cub Scout and a Girl Scout leader and was on many PTA committees. In addition, she belonged to First Families of Tennessee.

After moving to Kingsport, TN, in 1993, Dotty joined Waverly Road Presbyterian Church where she served 2 terms as an Elder and was active in the Shepherds Ministry.

She is survived by two sons, Paul Leonard (Len) Royston, Jr. and his wife Linda of Seymour, TN; Charles Donaldson (Don) Royston of Kingsport, TN; and daughter Jean Carol (Jeannie) Royston Atwell and husband Maurice of Ringgold, GA.

Also surviving are five grandchildren: Audrey Royston Hein (Jeremiah) of Piney Flats, TN, Rachael Royston Edwards (Benjamin) of Jonesborough, TN; Rebecca Atwell Parton (Kyle) of Ringgold, GA, Maurice Deal Atwell, IV, ( Amanda) of Aiken, SC, and Amelia Kate Atwell of Inman, SC. She is survived by fourteen great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Hannah Faith Atwell and daughter-in-law, Vicki Sipe Royston.

The Rev. Dr. Daniel Donaldson, retired pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Greeneville, TN. will officiate at the graveside service with interment to follow in the family plot in Bethesda Cemetery in Russellville, TN.

Dotty's family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the staff and workers at The Blake and Smoky Mountain Hospice for their tender loving care and devotion to our mother.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to one of her charities: Kingsport Homeless Ministries, Inc. PO Box 1125, Kingsport, TN. 37662-1125, Hannah Faith Atwell Memorial Scholarship Helen Presbyterian Church, PO Box 312, Helen, GA. 30545, or to TN Society of CPAs Foundation Paul L. Royston Scholarship Fund, 201 Powell Place, Brentwood, TN, 37027.

Please visit www.hamlettdobson.com to leave an online condolence for the family.