February 28, 1938 - June 28, 2024
Brandenton, Florida - Reverend James Edward Dukes, Jr. (86) was born February 28, 1938 in Columbia, South Carolina, the son of James Edward Dukes, Sr. and Ruby Avis Bolen Dukes. He is preceded in death by both his parents and his first wife Gladys Irene Canada Dukes. His family is his wife, Linda Kozloski Dukes, brother Walker Dukes (San Fransico, CA) and daughters, Diane Dukes Ferguson (Mark, Richmond, VA) and Christina Dukes, (Bladensburg, MD) as well as granddaughter Julia Wack (Richmond.) Also, stepchildren: Ann Marie Kozloski (Bradenton, FL), Kevin Kozloski (Jamie, Boswell, IN), granddaughters Sadie Kozloski Walker (Fowler, IN), Courtney Kozloski Anders (Justin, Beaufort, SC), Kamey Kozloski, (Fowler) and seven great-grandchildren.
While Rev. Dukes was born in South Carolina, he was carried, as a babe in arms, to Florida where he resided most of his lifetime. He graduated from Palatka High School, earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida, a Master of Divinity from Emory University (Atlanta, GA), a Master of Philosophy from the University of South Carolina and completed additional course work at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC.
His religious career started as the youth director for college students at Trinity United Methodist Church in Bradenton where he met his first wife, "Renie." Additional church assignments were in Nashville, TN and Lancaster, SC, and at New Bethel Lutheran Church Richfield, NC, St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Lumberton, NC, Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Naples, and the Everglades Community Church in Everglades City.
Rev. Dukes was a true southern gentleman, noted for his wisdom, sage advice, and empathy for his fellow Christians. He loved to wade fish in the shallow Florida bays, danced enthusiastically at weddings, church events, and Freedom Village parties, was an expert counted cross stitch devotee, and enjoyed playing board games with his friends in Freedom Village. He never forgot his special high school friends in Palatka and visited them as often as possible.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association; 14010 Roosevelt Rd. #801; Clearwater, FL 33762.
