A few years back, while visiting the Albert Lowe Museum in Green Turtle Cay, I shot pictures of some of the many photographs that line the museum walls. No special reason. I just love old photos from the cay.
Later, while editing the photos I’d taken, I came across the picture below. One face in particular — the girl in the back row, second from left — caught my eye. She looked a lot like childhood photos of my mother and I wondered if she might be a relative. One of my mom’s aunts, perhaps, or maybe even my grandmother. I asked around and emailed the image to various family members. Nobody could identify her.
Then, during our trip to Green Turtle Cay this past May, Mr. Floyd Lowe graciously offered me a copy of his recently written autobiography. Mr. Floyd owns the Green Turtle Cay Ferry Service and several other local businesses. He’s a charming and generous man who, at 94, is one of the cay’s true treasures. As he’s fond of joking, “Nobody can dispute what I say. I’m the oldest person on the island.”
Flipping through the family photos in Mr. Floyd’s book, I recognized one of the girls from that class picture. The book identified her as Mr. Floyd’s late wife, Mrs. Zeddith. I knew that Mr. Floyd, Mrs. Zeddith and my grandmother were all born in 1919 and therefore, were likely to have been in the same class at school.
The next morning, I went looking for Mr. Floyd. He confirmed that the girl I wondered about was indeed my grandmother, Lurey Curry. Word was, he confided with a mischievous smile, Lurey had a little crush on him back in school. Not only did he identify my grandmother, but Mr. Floyd put names to almost every face in the photo. (And Joy Lowe Jossi, one of my Bahamian genealogical heroes, kindly filled in the few remaining gaps.)
Taken in 1933, when my grandmother was about 14, this is the earliest photo we have of her. It will be proudly and prominently displayed at Fish Hooks.
Delores Saunders and teacher, Amy Roberts.
FRONT ROW (seated) L-R: Anthony Roberts, Merriel Roberts, Joyce Pinder, Iris Roberts, Merlee Lowe.
Photo courtesy of the Albert Lowe Museum.
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I know! By the way, Evan, Joy Jossi tells me that Delores Saunders is Aunt Edie’s daughter, which would make her my grandmother’s first cousin, and your Dad’s as well, correct?
You know I thought that could be her as well! And Anthony Roberts is another 1st cousin (son of Aunt Dora). My dad worked for him at Roberts Furniture in Nassau for many years.
Oh, I didn’t realize that. Wow, our family members made up a good chunk of that class. Mr. Floyd also looked at several other photos for me, and gave me names. I’m going to go through them, run them by Joy for confirmation, and post them. I just love these old pics!
My grandfather (Bill Bowe) worked for Anthony Roberts at Home Furniture…Joyce Curry is a very close relative (The late Paul Curry’s family who owns The Wrecking Tree)