by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2025

Junius Otto Posey, Jr. was born on April 3, 1948, to Florinda Marie GOMES (1909-1964) and Junius Otto Posey (1916-1984).

Junius had three older brothers: William “Bill” Hamilton, Jr., Francis Salvador Theodore Hamilton, and Ernest Eugene Hamilton. His little brother Paul Thomas was born on December 2, 1951, in Key West, Florida, when Junius was 3 years old.

Ernest Hamilton, Junius Posey, Bill Hamilton, Francis Hamilton
TOP ROW Francis Hamilton, Ernest Hamilton, Bill Hamilton BOTTOM ROW Junius Posey, Florinda GOMES Posey, Tommy Posey

Junius and Tommy wrote letters to Santa Claus in the Key West Citizen in 1954.

Junius Otto Posey, Sr. Junius Otto Posey, Jr., Florinda GOMES Posey
Francis Hamilton, Jr. and Junius Posey, Jr.
Tommy Posey and Junius Posey, Jr.
Tommy and Junius
IN THE LATE 50S: Laura Etta YOUNG Gomes far right. Francis Hamilton’s (son of Florinda GOMES) wife, Connie Hamilton holding Francis Hamilton and Junius Posey (son of Florinda GOMES).

His niece, Karen Hamilton, recalls her uncle Junius teaching her how to play Rummy at the kitchen table. He called the clubs “puppy dog tails.” 

BACK ROW: Junius Posey, Ernest Hamilton, Tom Posey, Bill Hamilton, Francis Hamilton MIDDLE ROW: Mona Hamilton, Teena Hamilton, Connie Ann Hamilton, Connie Hamilton, Jeannie Hamilton BOTTOM ROW: Terry Hamilton, Karen Hamilton (holding Peewee), Ernie Hamilton, Lee Hamilton?, Jimmy Hamilton

Junius was a lively young man, frequently in minor trouble. On one occasion he was charged with breach of the peace for “twirling a woman in his arms in the middle of the street.”

Junius Otto Posey, Jr. died in a car accident on February 24, 1971, in Alachua, Florida, when he was 22 years old.