Paul Shawn Royal

Obituary

Paul Shawn Royal was born in Baltimore, Maryland on December 12, 1963. He was the third child of Thomas Carol and Claudette Gross Royal. Paul was a man of laughter and love.  He departed this life unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 19th, 2025.

Shawn, as he was affectionately known by his family, received his formal education in the Baltimore City Public School System. He graduated from the Park Heights Street Academy. 

As a young man, Paul met Miss Everlyn Nolan. During this relationship, four children were knitted to his heart - Shawn, Thomas, Paula, and Claudette. 

In 1985, he met the love of his life and future wife, Malinda Jackson, at Popeyes where they worked together. They married in 1990 and in 2007 baby Calvin, or “Mr. Garby” as Shawn called him, completed the family. 

A man of many interests, Shawn’s employment, hobbies and volunteer service were a true reflection of himself.   He enrolled in several state-sponsored vocational programs.  He earned many certificates including a Culinary Certificate from the Maryland Food Bank and most recently, he successfully earned a certificate of completion for the National Safety Council Course in Lift Truck Operator training.  One of his fondest work experiences was working for his cousin Peanut’s business, Boykin Lawncare. 

He had a great appetite for learning and he loved to try new things. One of his favorite shows was Jeopardy and he enjoyed a good book.

Shawn had a great sense of humor. He always had a joke, making everyone laugh.  Although he boasted how well he could cook, his brother Steve remembers he burned everything. He thought he was the black “Gordon Ramsey” taking over everyone’s kitchen. Once “Shawn” showed up, he could be heard saying his famous words - “Get out of my kitchen!”.

Shawn was a sports enthusiast. Every sport you could think of - baseball, basketball, football - Shawn was into it.  He coached his youngest son Calvin’s T-Ball team, part of the James Mosher Little League,  the longest, consecutively running African-American Little League in the country. And he took that position very seriously. 

 Shawn was also on a continual spiritual journey.  He was baptized at First St. Stephens Baptist Church.  Paul Shawn diligently pursued a greater understanding of both Judaism and Christianity.  Shawn attended Refreshing Life where he and his wife Linda volunteered at the food pantry. He also gained a mentor in the person of the pastor there, Bishop Ernest Gilliam, Jr.

Paul loved the elderly and they loved him. He was such a gentleman sharing the same care toward them that he learned from his mother and father.   

He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.  Most of all, he loved his children. 

Paul Shawn Royal was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Claudette and one son, Al- Quamaar Assaad Royal.

 Paul Shawn leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Malinda of 35 years; his children: Shawn Nolan, Thomas (“T.C.”), Paul, Jr., Marcella Paula, (“Honeybee”), Claudette, (“Honeybear”), and Calvin, (“Mr. Garby”) Royal; nine grandchildren: Shamon, Darius, Kendall, Maziyah, Harmony (“Peanut”), Sabria, Keyshawna, Rasheed, Tayshawna and one great-grandchild, Milan; his siblings, Stephen, (“Steve”), Damon, Michelle, Lorena (“Lori”), Timothy; a “bonus” son, Keion Williams; his mother-in-law, Annie Jackson, one sister-in-law, Monica R. J. Bland (Keith); a special friend, Jodi; a very special cousin, Pressie “Peanut” Boykin, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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