Beatrice Burke Dismer

Beatrice Burke Dismer, 97, of St. Simon’s Island passed into her loving Savior’s arms on September 6, 2020 in Gray, GA, surrounded by her family. Born to Arvilla Hauck Burke and Walter Joseph Burke on September 4, 1923 in Atlanta, Mrs. Dismer was lifelong Georgian.  She grew up in Atlanta and attended Fontbonne College in St. Louis and did graduate work at Emory University.  Beatrice majored in Piano Music Performance and Theory and did graduate studies in Education. She married William Edward Dismer on September 30, 1950, and had five children,  William Blaise Dismer of Porto, Portugal (Martha), Joan Dismer Childs of Gray, Georgia (John), Jeanne Elizabeth Dismer of St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, Terri Dismer Bickley of St. Simon’s Island and Marshallville, Georgia (Alton), and Erika Dismer Doster of Augusta, Georgia (Thomas).

Beatrice was a church organist over several years in Atlanta, serving at Sacred Heart, Immaculate Conception, St. Thomas More, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Churches.  She and her family moved to St. Simon’s Island in 1975, and Beatrice became the organist at St. William Catholic Church, where she served for nearly 30 years.  She also served as Executive Director of the YWCA, Glynn Academy Guidance Secretary, and got her real estate license at age 65. Beatrice was an unstoppable force for kindness, reaching out to others at every opportunity.  She worked publicly with the St. William Parish Council of Catholic Women and in other diocesan roles.  Privately, she volunteered with many organizations, including St. Vincent de Paul Society, Glynn County Library Board, Glynn County Mozart Society, and the Golden Isles Republican Women’s Club.  Many will remember her as the pianist for summer children’s productions of the Island Players, as well as acting in a few plays.

Beatrice was predeceased by her parents and siblings Joan, Joseph Alan, and Walter Burke. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Mary (Peg) Burke White of Atlanta and brother, William Martin Burke (Connie) of St. Simon’s Island; many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, as well as 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, Meg Dismer of New Zealand, Zachary Dismer of St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, John Childs, III of St. Simon’s Island, Georgia (wife Tracy, daughters Ashton, Ansley, and Capers), Walker Childs of Hoschton, Georgia (wife Gretchen, sons Chase and Hamp), Elizabeth Childs Coutu of Sandy Springs, Georgia (husband Matt, sons Mathis and Colin), Wesley Childs of Macon, Georgia (wife Lauren, daughters Layla and Audrey), Benjamin Childs of Macon, Georgia (wife Caroline, son Barron), Burke Murph, III of Marshallville, Georgia (wife Selena, children Win and BellaKay), Beth Ann Murphy Lane of Perry, Georgia (husband Duke, children Kate and John David), Olivia Neal of St. Simon’s Island, Georgia (husband Barrett, daughters Isabel and Amelia), Anna Doster of Augusta, Georgia.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Friday, September 11, 2020 at 2:00 PM at St. William Catholic Church in St. Simon’s.  There will be a Rosary at 1:30 led by the family. Because we all love each other so much, we also want to protect each other. Out of respect for each other, let’s all please wear masks, stay six feet apart, and refrain from hugging each other.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Georgia Right to Life.  (https://www.grtl.org/?q=donate)

Or Helping Hugs for Haiti (provides educational materials and instruments to underprivileged families in Haiti) (https://helpinghugsinc.org/)

Hart’s Jones County Chapel, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 307 Pecan Lane, Gray, GA 31032 has charge of the arrangements.

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