Susan Wood Royster

Susan Royster died peacefully on February 10, 2024. She was 81 years old.

Susan graduated from Benson High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She taught 5th and 6th grades in Florida, England, Raleigh, and Cary before retiring from the Wake County Public School System in 1998.

Traveling the world, her cats, reading, gardening, opera, symphony and her friends and family were her greatest pleasures. She fostered long-term friendships with whom she had many fun times. Topsail Beach, with its wonderful people, sea and sunsets, was Susan’s special place.

Susan was a “teaching adventurer”. Susan traveled the world for over six decades with Danny, friends, and family. As a teacher, she was able to introduce students to faraway people, places and cultures based on her firsthand experiences.

Susan valued international travel so much that when her husband Danny passed away in 1989, she established a scholarship with Go Global NC in his name. The scholarship enables a Wake County public school teacher to travel abroad every year and bring their experiences back to students. The lives of many Wake County public school teachers and their students have been greatly enhanced by this gift.

Before her death, Susan established a lifetime Go Global NC scholarship for Pender County. She was excited that Pender County teachers will be exposed to faraway places, people and cultures and bring their experiences back to their classrooms enhancing the lives of many.

Susan was predeceased by her husband, Danny Royster, parents Lois and P.B. Wood, Jr., sisters Peggy McGee Hall and Deborah Wood Kennedy. She is survived by sister Bette Anne Stephenson (Tommy) of Cary, seven nieces and nephews, and twelve great nieces and nephews.

Donations in memory of Susan may be made to Go Global NC at P.O. Box 2162, Wake Forest, NC 27588 or at https://globalnc.org/donate. The family will hold a private gathering at Topsail Beach this summer to honor Susan.