Grace Royston

Grace Marie Carmack Byerly Stratton Royston, age 89, of Omaha, Nebraska went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at her daughter’s home where she resided for the past 13 years. Originally from Mendota, Va., Grace was born March 31, 1937, to the late Willis Campbell Carmack and Hannah Ruth Hagaman Carmack. She was raised in Bristol, Tenn. where she graduated from Tennessee High School.

She was a mother to three children: Sheila, Joseph and Gila, whom she shared with her first husband, David Earn Byerly, United States Marine Corps (Ret.) The family accompanied Mr. Byerly to several military stations while he served in both the Vietnam War and the Korean War. Grace was widowed after 32 years of marriage and was proud of her status as a Gold Star Wife.

Locally, Grace worked for Bristol Compressors and retired from Cigna Insurance Company. She attended Antioch Baptist Church in Bristol, Va. and Snow Baptist Church in Johnson City, Tenn. Upon her relocation to Nebraska, Grace became a member of Converge Church in Omaha.

Additionally, Grace was preceded in death by her second husband of nine years, Bill Stratton; her third husband of five years, Floyd Royston; a grandson, Jonathan Armstrong; four stepsons: David Royston; Steve Royston; Allen Royston; and Harold Royston; and an additional stepson by marriage, Will Cole.

She is survived by her three children and their spouses: Sheila Ann Armstrong and husband, Bobby, of Gates, N.C.; Joseph Willis Byerly and wife, Chizuru, of Norman, Okla.; and Gila Marie Brock and husband, Christopher, of Omaha, Neb.; four grandchildren, Jeffrey Armstrong, Katelyn Byerly, Jocelyn Byerly, and Joseph Brock; great granddaughter, Morgan Armstrong; and a step great granddaughter, Evelyn Ortega. She also has two stepdaughters, Brenda Cole and Teresa Kellar.

Grace enjoyed country gospel music and country music as well as going dancing on Friday and Saturday nights when she was in better health. She enjoyed going out to dinner with friends and family as well as traveling the country and learning about the history of our nation as it has developed.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by funeral services at 7:00 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church, 190 Salem Dr., Bristol, VA 24201, with Pastor Danny Thompson officiating. A burial service will be held Friday, April 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery, 1019 E. Valley Dr., Bristol, VA 24201 where Jeffrey Armstrong, Mark Jones, Kreg Ramey, Pat Messer, Brent Hill, and Shane Gill will serve as pallbearers.

The family of Grace Royston is being cared for by Perry Cremation & Funeral Alternatives, 1000 W. Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-776-5950).