Their ancestors were among the first black Americans on Sanibel Island. Hurricane Ian drove them away.
The Gavin family arrived on Sanibel over 100 years ago, one of the first two black families to settle on the idyllic island that dangles off the west coast of Florida like a fishing hook.
Since then, their escape route has closed behind them: Ian pulverised the causeway, severing it from the mainland for the foreseeable future.But a deeper link may have been harmed as well - one that ties the Gavin family to the history and culture of Sanibel. He and Elnora had 21 children, one of whom was Oscar, Phoebe's father. Many of the others also set down roots on Sanibel. Over the years, members of the family founded landscaping companies and owned restaurants.
Family members have been profiled by the local press, which celebrated the Gavins' centennial in 2017. A plaque marks the spot where Phoebe's great-grandparents' house once stood, though "there's no reason to believe it's still there" after the storm, she said. Relief finally came on Thursday morning when her mother managed to make a spotty 30-second phone call from her husband's ancient Nokia flip phone. They were safe.
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