Floria Mercedes Warner

In Loving Memory of

Floria Mercedes Warner

July 31, 1949 – July 14, 2026

With heart filled love and gratitude, we celebrate the life of our beloved Floria Mercedes Warner, affectionately known as “Coolie,” who peacefully gained her Heavenly wings on July 14, 2026, at the age of 76.

Floria was born on July 31, 1949, on the beautiful island of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to her late parents Ivan Gordon Rabsatt and Eunice Emelda Warner. She attended George Washington Elementary School and later advanced to Charlotte Amalie High School.

After high school, Floria worked as a dedicated homemaker. She was known for her exceptional cooking, cleaning, and ironing skills - just to name a few. Several years later she had her first child, Denise; then followed Delores, Derrick, and Dahlia. After a three-year gap she married and had her last child, Carol, which was conceived from this union, which unfortunately ended after thirteen years of marriage. She took care of her children. They were always well groomed, and she guarded them like a hawk. Don’t mess with her children or you would surely hear her mouth. She had a big loud voice and an even bigger, giving heart.

Floria found joy in domestic work, and she did it with excellence and pride – Ask her sister “Nonkie” who enjoyed her boil fish with fungi. She was an early raiser who loved going to the fish market in the early morning, sometimes even before the sun rose, to pick out the very best fish and return home to clean them, and I mean squeaky clean. She would scale, gut the fish, and have her clean water and lime ready to soak and bathe them “good.” And when she seasoned her fish and fried or steamed them in a nice garlic, butter sauce with lots of onions – “Oh my gosh! They were so tasty!” You can also ask her nieces, Jill and Marlene about their craving for her cornmeal pop porridge when they were with child or ask her ex-husband Jung why he would scrape the bottom of the pot when she did Chicken-N-Rice cook up. She was such an excellent cook that when she was in the kitchen, the scrumptious aroma of her pot traveled throughout Anna’s Fancy. All you would hear is someone yelling, “Somebody cooking something dat smell so good; it must be Coolie!!” Followed by, “Coolie, wha you cooking? Ah coming for some now!!!! And whatever was in her pot, she gladly shared!!!! She was a giver.

Everything Coolie did was done meticulously. When she ironed clothes, they looked like they were dry-cleaned at the cleaners. The sleeves were crisp and the shirt or garment nicely pressed. Her neighbors always sought her out to iron clothes for them. Speaking of ironing, no one could pass a sizzling hot ironing comb through your hair without burning your scalp like Coolie could. Whether she was ironing your hair or perming it, everyone knew that Coolie’s hands would make their hair grow!!!!

When Coolie cleaned the house, every room was spotless: the bed nicely made and the furniture polished until it looked brand new. You could eat off the floor when she was done.

When she washed clothes, she hung them on the line in such an orderly fashion, and you could smell that fresh Downy smell blowing in the wind – “Oh my gosh! I can smell it now!”

She loved people without reservation. Coolie invited vagrants into her home – Yes, this sounds crazy, right? She gave people refuge who did not have anywhere to stay until they got on their feet. She would give her last and be without. She always fought for the underdog. A helper to the less unfortunate – that is who Floria was. That is her legacy! She was very strong and resilient – A Leo and loving Lioness. Everyone knew not to mess with her family and friends.

In addition to these attributes, Floria also worked in the hotel industry at the Hyatt Regency, the Westin in St. John, and Mom’s Daycare with her sister Earlin. She served as a beloved private babysitter; her clients loved her work ethic and her meticulous homemaking skills that they wanted her to move to the mainland with them, but she politely declined.

Among her most adored attributes was her great compassion for children, which led her to work in the childcare industry both at an established childcare center and as a childcare provider from within her own home. Floria’s love for children was so profound that it was reciprocated by the children she cared for. As adults, they all hold fond memories of when she cared for them, and they always showed her love. Caring for children was her last vocational calling before she retired.

Floria suffered a stroke in 2016 prompting her move to Maryland, where she was cared for and loved on until the Lord called her home. And although she left St. Thomas almost ten years ago, everyone – neighbors, relatives, and friends – all remembered her, prayed for her, and always asked how she was doing. She left the island, but her indelible presence remained in the heart of her people.

“Coolie, you fought the good fight and earned your new heavenly body. Rest in eternal peace, as we cherish sweet memories of you, still taste the flavor of your delicious cooking on our tongue, and honor your legacy of giving. Rest well until we meet again.”

In Lieu of flowers, donate to Faith Alive Christian Academy (FACA) administrator@fcfcaic.org

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