Martha Brown Royall, touched many lives
Martha Brown Royall passed away in the arms of her immediate family Saturday, March 28, 2026, a beautiful sunny day. She leaves behind her beloved husband, Richard M. Royall; her devoted daughters, Patty Royall and Betsy Goodhue; her loving son-in-law, Scott Goodhue; and her three adoring grandsons, Richard Goodhue, Charlie Goodhue and Miles Nakamura.
She was born in Atlanta, Ga., in 1939. During her childhood, her family moved often for her father’s (a construction engineer) work, eventually settling in Concord, N.C. After high school, Martha enrolled in
Greensboro College and it was there, on a blind date facilitated by her roommate, she met the love of her life, Richard Royall. Married at just 20, they moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1962 for Richard to attend Stanford University graduate school. In a charming little house on Windmere Avenue, they welcomed their first child, Patty (Martha Hunter). A year later, Richard’s academic career brought them to Baltimore, Md., to Johns Hopkins University, where their second child, Betsy (Sarah Elizabeth) was born.
During her life in Baltimore, Martha was a volunteer with children at both Johns Hopkins Hospital and Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. She adored children.
She began modeling in 1970 but quickly became disillusioned with that role and became partners with the agent, Cory Taylor, for whom she was working, who became a dear friend. The new partnership was known as Taylor Royall. She grew the company to be one of the most prominent agencies, as well as paymaster services, in the area.
In the early ‘80s, inspired by a visit to L.A., Martha opened California Bodyworks. It was one of the first fitness studios of its kind.
She founded the Maryland chapter of Women in Film & Video. Recognizing all she has done for the film and video industry in Maryland, she was honored by the state of Maryland with a Governor’s Citation, honoring her entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership skills, and given the 2001 Women in Film & Video Charm City Award. Mayor O’Malley designated Sept. 20, 2001, as Martha Royall Day in Baltimore.
In the mid-‘90s, turning the running of Taylor Royall over to her oldest daughter, Patty, she then turned to launching a very successful catering company with her youngest daughter, Betsy.
She and Richard retired to Lewes in 2002. In Lewes, Martha was a driving force in creating and founding Historic Lewes Farmers Market.
In between all of this, she relished becoming a grandmother, decorated countless homes, threw the most beautiful and welcoming parties, and made friends with everyone she met.
Martha brought unimaginable love, grace and joy into this world. She impacted more lives, in remarkably positive ways, than can possibly be counted. She constantly said that she was the luckiest person in the world and that she had lived the best possible life of anyone she could imagine.
There will be no funeral or immediate memorial service.
Donations be made in her name to Heifer International, heifer.org/give/giving-in-honor, a charity close to her heart.
