Augustus ‘Gussie’ Roberts was born on April 21, 1906, in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco to Captain William Augustus Roberts Jr (1859-1932) and Edna Mae Brown (1886-1973).

His siblings included Bertram Richard (1904), John (1908), Iola Elizabeth (1910), Thomas Paul (1915), Adeline Matilda (1917), Edna Caroline (1922). His half-siblings included Osborne Campbell (1880), Paulena Lenora (1883), Hartley Bernard (1889), and George Roland (1894).

In July 1928 at his father’s home on Shirley Street in Nassau, Gussie married Verna Elaine Thompson daughter of Elisha Thompson and Estelle Blanche “Ethel’ Bethel. Their children include William Augustus ‘Gus’ and Jeanette.

During the 1950s, Gussie became the first Bahamian Commissioner of Police in Nassau.

Pierre V. L. Dupuch recalled…

We all know Gussie Roberts, one of the great photographers of the then Development Board. Well Gussie had a father who was also called Gussie, but he was a policeman, an inspector with the Royal Bahamas Police Force, who later became assistant commissioner of Police.

One afternoon Inspector Roberts was on point duty with a number of young policemen checking licenses on West Bay Street. One of the young corporals came to Inspector Roberts and said, “Sir, we have a problem in front.”

Inspector Roberts said, “What’s the problem young man?”

The young officer said, “Well Sir, there is a woman up front who does not have a license.”

Inspector Roberts replied, “Book her.”

The young officer said, “But Sir you don’t understand, the young lady is your sister.”
Inspector Roberts replied, “Young man you don’t understand, I said book her.”
That was Nassau many years ago when there was discipline, law and order.

Gussie passed away from cardiac arrest while in his vehicle on February 19, 1963 (age 56). He is buried in Ebenezer Methodist Church Cemetary in Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas.