It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Augustus Dismukes, Jr., who peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on June 23, 2026, at the age of 86. He will be greatly missed by his children, family, and friends.

Augustus “Gus” Dismukes, Jr., was born in Mobile, Alabama, on January 7, 1940, one of twelve children born to Augustus Dismukes, Sr. and Detta Dismukes. In the mid-1940s, the family migrated north and settled in Newark, New Jersey. In December 1963, Augustus married Patricia Morris of Roselle, New Jersey, and together they had three children: Donna, Lisa, and Reuben. In the 2000s, he relocated to North Carolina and then to North Central Florida where he married Laura Edwards. Though this marriage was brief, he built a meaningful relationship with her and with his stepdaughter, Ramona Joy Achoki.

Gus had a deep passion for music. He was a self-taught flutist, saxophonist, clarinetist, and pianist who learned to play difficult classical flute pieces on his own. He passed that love of music on to his children, each of whom became musicians and who regularly include classical music in their playlists.

Gus’ involvement with the arts was not limited to music, though, for he made his on-stage debut in the mid-1980s as a fashion show male model and soon thereafter expanded his repertoire to stage acting, set construction, artistic direction, and writing. For some two decades, he had a hand in more than 50 stage, TV, and radio productions, quite often in the lead role. In 1997, he wrote, directed and took the leading role in Warning—Your Children Are Watching, a play that focused on the confusion created in a child’s world by the substance abuse of his parents and other adults. The production was well received by adults and children alike in the public school system of East Orange, New Jersey.

Gus supported his family by working as a baker and a salesman, but carpentry was his true passion. He had a challenging upbringing, which made it difficult for him to complete his compulsory schooling. However, in April 2006, at the age of 66, he proudly completed the graduation requirements for the Adult High School program at Durham Technical Community College in North Carolina.

His children will always carry the lessons he gave them. Some were spoken plainly, and others were shown through the way he lived. Among the lessons he left them with were: 1) Never let people know you are afraid of them, because fear can give them power. 2) Learn to read music and play an instrument. 3) Always keep your head up so you can see where you are going. His enduring awareness of his spiritual need, his faith in God and his determination to walk in the footsteps of Christ instilled in his children a similar desire. In that way, his example continues to influence and guide them.

Preceded in death by: siblings - Charles, Raymond, Ronald, Janice, Barbara, Michael, Norris, and Claude.

Survived by: sisters - Karen, Deborah, and Ava; brother - Anthony; grandchildren - Justin, Chaad, and Kearyn; great-grandchildren - Phoenix, Anniease, and Luna; and extended family - many loving nieces and nephews.

There will be many moments when we miss him: in familiar orchestral pieces, in family photos, in quiet memories, and in the small reminders that appear when we least expect them. Even in our grief, we can be thankful for the time we had with him and for the good memories that will endure. Though he later wished he had been more present in the lives of his children, they will always carry his love of music and the lessons that he taught them.

THE SERVICE WILL BE LIVE STREAMED

https://www.youtube.com/live/xhTvlhqgEcw?si=jDPPq9gzU_RGOu7P

JULY 19, 2026 @ 2:45 PM