Deroy was born on July 18, 1955 in the small family friendly town of Wadley, GA to Ernestine Harris and William Albert Bealle. He lived there with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins until he was 7 years old.

At 7 years old he moved to the “big city” Brooklyn, NY with his father. He often said it was the biggest culture shock of his life. However, he thrived in NY and graduated from the New York School of Printing.

He returned to Wadley to wait for his time to join the Navy. No one thought he was really going to go, but in March of 1976 his cousins Hoyt and Ezell Hollins, sent him on his way. He spent the next 20 years in the United States Navy. He was stationed in several places including Pearl Harbor, HI, San Diego, CA, Jacksonville, FL, La Maddelena, Italy, Charleston, SC, Orlando, FL, Mayport, FL, and Groton, CT. Roy was a torpedoman and worked on Tomahawk Cruise Missiles, harpoon weapons, Mark 46 and 48 torpedos, subroc underwater weapons, and LAMPS helicopters.

In 1979 Roy met and married his wife Michelle. They were blessed with two daughters Latisha, born in Jacksonville, FL and Juanita born in La Maddelena, Italy. They would have celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in December of this year.

When he retired from the Navy, they returned to Michelle’s hometown of Rochester, NY there he went to work for NY State Office of Children and Family services in the Juvenile Correction Center for serious offenders as a correctional officer. While the job was demanding and challenging he maintained a positive attitude by focusing on being not just a correctional officer but also mentor and counselor that could touch as many lives as possible.

While in Rochester, Roy was an active member of Mount Olivet Baptist Church where he served as a trustee, and was a big advocate for the youth programs.

After spending 17 very cold snowy winters in Rochester, Roy and Michelle packed up and moved to Orlando, FL where he started enjoying his retirement to the fullest. He was an avid fisherman and was thrilled to live near the ocean. This was where he discovered Pickelball. In Orlando, he was a member of New Covenant Baptist Church. It was here he joined NABVETS (National Association of Black Veterans). He served in many capacities with his last post as Commander of the southern region which included Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. He was passionate about helping veterans obtain all services and benefits owed to them.

Alas, Georgia called him home and he returned to Augusta. He continued to serve as an advocate for veterans, but this is where he really found his Pickleball “family.” He played almost daily and found many new friends in the community. Recently, he discovered gardening and with the help of our friend Christine has managed to harvest an array of vegetables and fruits. He was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church where he was an active with the Veteran’s Group and Men’s Group.

He was a loving husband, father, son, and friend to all. He will be missed.

Roy is survived by his wife, Michelle, daughters Latisha (Dinero) McCray, Juanita (Brandon) Barfield, 3 grandchildren Keyana Collins-Bealle, Marlon Collins, Malik McCray, 2 great-grandchildren Jermell Barnes and Zola Barnes.

He is also survived by his father William Albert Bealle Sr, Sisters-Carlette Howard (John), Cynthia Harris, Audrey Williams (Paul), Regina Bealle, Denise Bealle-Adams, Brothers-Jerome Harris, Theotis Harris, William Albert Bealle Jr, Dennis Bealle, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Public viewing, will be held Friday, August 29, 2025 from 3:00 – 6:00 P.M. at Davis Funeral Home, 725 Beech Street, Louisville, GA. and Saturday, August 30, 2025 from 12:00 to 1:00 P.M. at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1223 Laney Walker Blvd., Augusta, GA

Celebration of Life, Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 1223 Laney Walker Blvd, Augusta, GA. with full military honors.

Davis Funeral Home, 725 Beech Street, Louisville, GA is in charge of arrangements for Mr. Deroy Bealle.