Raymond Augustus, a well-liked funeral director and an iconic figure of the Friswells Hill neighbourhood, will be laid to rest this Saturday after his death last week at the age of 57.

His brother, David Augustus Sr, who worked alongside him at the family’s Augustus Funeral Home, recalled Mr Augustus as a good-humoured and “happy-go-lucky, fun-loving guy”.

“He was very active in the community; he would pour out his heart to you, and he was always giving out different sayings,” he said.

Mr Augustus’s love of Gombeys will be reflected in his funeral service planned at the St Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church. As well as putting in decades of work at the business founded by their father, also named David, Mr Augustus was devoted to the Devonshire Recreation Club and had a passion for gardening at his home on Friswells Lane.

Like the family patriarch as well as his brothers, Mr Augustus was known to many by the nickname “Chippo”.

He is survived by his son Rakai from his marriage to Gina Augustus, and was most recently in a relationship with Terrylynn Lewis, his family said.

His brother Derrick, who worked with him as well as brothers Calvin, David and Gary, recalled a bustling career alongside Mr Augustus in earlier years at the Hamilton Princess.

“We started out as waiters; he worked his way up to captaincy, and then we went down to the Colony Pub — we ran the show,” he said. “We worked seven days a week and we had fun. He was a good guy and a good brother.”