by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2024
Florinda Marie GOMES Posey (or Flo as most called her) was born on November 2, 1909, in Boca Grande, Florida, to Francisco GOMES D’sa (1855-1931) and Laura Etta YOUNG (1875-1955).
SIBLINGS
- Anna Bell was born on January 15, 1890, in Lee, Florida
- Mary Joaquina was born on January 10, 1895
- Joaquin F “King” was born on March 1, 1898
- Lillian Josephine was born on May 7, 1899, in Punta Rassa, Florida
- Salvador “Son” Sabino was born on March 3, 1903, in Fort Myers, Florida.
- Amelia ‘Mellie’ Isabelle was born on October 23, 1907, in Fort Myers, Florida.
- Frances Lenora was born on March 3, 1912, in Fort Myers, Florida.
- Edna was born on March 10, 1915, in Fort Myers, Florida.
In 1910 she lived in Boca Grande with her parents and siblings. In 1920, she lived with her stepfather, Joseph PACETTI, her mother and siblings near Imperial River Road in Bonita Springs.
1st MARRIAGE
Florinda Marie GOMES married Charles W Lowe in Key West, Florida, on August 10, 1923, when she was 13 years old. At some point, they divorced.
2nd MARRIAGE
She married William Joseph HAMILTON on January 27, 1927 and they had three sons together, William Joseph, Jr., Francis Salvador Theodore, and Ernest Eugene.
In 1930, Florinda lived with her husband, William HAMILTON and their two sons, William Jr. and Francis (Francis is listed as a daughter ‘Theodora’ on this census) at Poinciana Point on Lostmans River.
WIDOWED
Florinda became a widow when her husband, William ‘Buddy’ HAMILTON disappeared in the Everglades islands in February 1932 along with his cousin Robert Joseph Hamilton. She was barely two months pregnant with Ernest at the time. William was never found and was presumed murdered. Florinda had him officially declared dead when she married her fourth husband.
Flo married her third husband, William David PARKER in 1933.
In 1940, they were living with her three children, William, Francis, and Ernest in Iona, Florida. They had a lodger living with them, Carl W. HOPPES.
They divorced in 1942. Parker then married Annie Thelma HAMILTON, daughter of Walter HAMILTON, Flo’s second husband’s uncle.
PHOTO COLLECTION from Ernest E. Hamilton
Florinda was 5’5″ tall. Her children and grandchildren remember her as a loving woman who helped anyone in need. She was a survivor in every sense. In 1943, she completed a course in “Math and Blueprinting” and began working for the Navy Department in Key West as a Machine Operator. She was let go from that job due to “reduction in force” in the summer of 1946.
4th MARRIAGE
She then married Junius Otto POSEY on October 14, 1947 and they had two children together, Junius, Jr. and Paul Thomas.
In 1950, Flo was living at 913 Watson St. in Key West with her husband, Junius POSEY, her son, Ernest, and she and Junius’ son, Junius Jr.
In 1952, they were living at 917 Watson St. They later moved to 1113 Catherine St. in Key West where she lived until her death.
PHOTO COLLECTION from Ernest E. Hamilton
DEATH
Florinda died on July 26, 1964, in a car accident in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the age of 54, and was buried in Key West, Florida.
FROM GRANDAUGHTER, KAREN HAMILTON: “I wish I remembered her; I was only 2 when she died. She and my mother were going across state to visit relatives and I was supposed to be with them, but my father decided to keep me home. I most likely would have died in that crash, no seat belts. I would have been in the back seat or on Grandma’s lap.”
Florinda left behind a major legacy within her family. Grandchildren have been named after her, songs written for her, and memories shared of a wonderful, caring woman who was devoted to her family.
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