Royal (Restaurant)
The Royal Cafe was listed in the Green Book from 1950-1955. It appeared in the Restaurants section as “Royal - 301 Highway St.” in Enfield.1
The Royal Cafe was listed in the Green Book from 1950-1955. Advertisements for the restaurant can be found as early as 1949. The restaurant was advertised as selling “meals and sandwiches of all kinds” alongs with ice cream and newspapers. The business’s proprietor was the Rev. George Edward Dancy.2
Rev. Dancy was born in Whitakers, Edgecombe County, North Carolina in 1896. He grew up with his mother (Charity Cutchin), grandparents (Harry and Henrietta Cutchin), and his siblings in the Upper Fishing Creek community. He served in the Air Force during World War I and was stationed at Camp Greene; he returned to Upper Fishing Creek following the war to work as a farmer.3
In addition to running the restaurant, Rev. Dancy served as the pastor of a few churches in Halifax County. His home church was Red Hill, located in Whitakers. Rev. Dancy married at least twice; first to Amy Whitaker in 1919, then to Viola Boddie in 1936.4
Rev. Dancy passed away at the VA Hospital in Durham, NC in 1955. He was survived by his widow, one daughter, and a brother.5
Essay by Brandie K. Ragghianti, 2022
Notes
1. Victor Green, 1950 Green Book, 62; Green, 1951 Green Book, 53; Green, 1952 Green Book, 53; Green, 1953 Green Book, 53; Green, 1954 Green Book, 52; Green, 1955 Green Book, 53.
2. “Advertisement,” The Carolinian, February 18, 1950, p. 14 (Image 22), North Carolina Newspapers/DigitalNC, digitalnc.org, accessed February 25, 2020; Search: “Royal Cafe,” North Carolina Newspapers/DigitalNC, digitalnc.org, accessed February 25, 2020; Enfield Section, 1949 Telephone Directory for Rocky Mount, Enfield, Nashville, Spring Hope, and Whitakers N.C., Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company, digital p. 56, physical p. 5, accessed from archive.org.
3. 1900 United States Federal Census, Upper Fishing Creek, Edgecombe, North Carolina, digital image s.v. “George Dancy,” accessed from www.ancestry.com; 1910 United States Federal Census, Fishing Creek, Edgecombe, North Carolina, digital image s.v. “George Cutchin,” accessed from www.ancestry.com; George Dancy, #4,233,857, North Carolina World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919, accessed from www.ancestry.com; George E. Dancy, #4233857, U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970, accessed from www.ancestry.com; 1920 United States Federal Census, Upper Fishing Creek, Edgecombe, North Carolina, digital image s.v. “George Dancy,” accessed from www.ancestry.com.
4. “Last Rites Held,” The Carolinian (Raleigh, NC), November 5, 1955, p. 3, accessed from digitalnc.org. George Dancy and Amy Whitaker, 19 November 1919, Edgecombe County, North Carolina, U.S. Marriage Records, 1741-2011, accessed from www.ancestry.com; George Dancy and Viola Boddie, November 22, 1936, Edgecombe County, North Carolina, U.S. Marriage Records, 1741-2011, accessed from www.ancestry.com.
5. “Last Rites Held,” The Carolinian (Raleigh, NC), November 5, 1955, p. 3, accessed from digitalnc.org; George Edward Dancy, October 14, 1955, North Carolina, U.S. Death Certificates, 1909-1976, accessed from www.ancestry.com.
