Jasmine Cephas Jones is mourning the loss of her father, Ron Cephas Jones.
The Hamilton actress, 34, admitted she had trouble accepting the fact that her father was gone after he died earlier this month.
“Sadness,” she captioned the post, which highlighted her favorite moments with the deceased This is us actor on Instagram. “This is a battle. I keep looking at my phone wanting to call you and wanting to hear your voice. You listened… you REALLY listened to me.”
Jasmine continued, “You valued my opinion and never judged me. We all know you were a great actor, but my God, you were a damn good father.”
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Ron Cephas Jones and Jasmine Cephas Jones.
Jasmine Cephas Jones/Instagram
All about the father-daughter relationship of Ron Cephas Jones and Jasmine Cephas Jones
The Blindspotting The star explained that the “best gift” she ever received from the Emmy winner was “as a father, he gave me a safe space to be me.” She said that he was never “afraid of my femininity and all the pain and discomfort and social anxiety and heavy burdens that society can put on us.”
With memories of Ron holding her as a baby and videos of the father-daughter duo singing together over the years, Jasmine noted how he “led me. He mentored me. Gut laughed with me. She cried with me. Sang with me. He celebrated me. Studied with me. He cared for me… and loved me.”
“So much can be said, but I don’t have many words,” she concluded. “I just love you so much. I miss you beyond words. I still feel you here with me and I will carry you in my heart forever. Your bird. 🤍🕊️.”
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Ron Cephas Jones and Jasmine Cephas Jones.
Jasmine Cephas Jones/Instagram
Ron and Jasmine Cephas Jones became the first father-daughter pair to win an Emmy in the same year
On August 19, Ron’s rep confirmed his death to PEOPLE. He was 66 years old.
“Beloved and award-winning actor Ron Cephas Jones has died at the age of 66 due to long-term lung problems,” they wrote in a statement.
“Throughout his career, his warmth, beauty, generosity, kindness and heart were felt by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him,” it continues. “He began his career at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and his love of the stage has been present throughout his career, including his recent Tony nomination and Drama Desk Award for his role in Clyde’s on Broadway.”
“Ron’s inner beauty and soul were evident to the huge audience from his multiple Emmy Award-winning performance on This is us. He is survived by his daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones,” the statement concluded.
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Ron Cephas Jones and Jasmine Cephas Jones.
Jasmine Cephas Jones/Instagram
Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore, Chrissy Metz and more pay tribute to Ron Cephas Jones after his death
Shortly after the news, Jasmine posted a simple black and white photo with her father on her Instagram Story the next morning. In the photo, the actress rested her head on her father’s shoulder and looked up at him.
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Her mother, Kim Lesley, followed her own memorial and posted a colorful picture of her walking with the late actor, who could be seen laughing happily with his right arm wrapped around her as she smiled warmly.
“Dear Ron,” she captioned the photo on her Instagram Story, adding an orange heart emoji and her name for him.
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Source: HIS Education