Today, Dad celebrates his centennial birthday in heaven, a milestone that fills my heart with both reverence and gratitude. He remains the guiding inspiration behind Out Island Boy, a testament to the captivating stories he shared from his boyhood on Green Turtle Cay. Those recollections of a tight-knit New Plymouth community in the 1930s and 1940s felt like glimpses into a cherished, almost mythical world—a place where life’s daily struggles were tempered by an enduring spirit of joy and freedom, now faded in the wake of our technology-driven age.

In his youth, to support his widowed mother, Dad made the courageous move to Nassau in search of opportunity. There, he built a life of love and legacy—courting and marrying Mom, raising a family, and cultivating a distinguished career spanning four decades. Whether at home, in church, or in his professional endeavors, his life was marked by unwavering generosity and selflessness, a spirit that continues to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know him.

John Wesley Lowe (1925-2013) was born in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco to Howard Lowe (1898-1927) and Bessie Caroline Curry (1903-1967).

Dad’s paternal grandparents are John Aquilla Lowe (1858-1925) and Minnie Curry (1866-1903).

Dad’s maternal grandparents are Thomas WESLEY Curry (1865-1940?) and Lilla Carleton (1866).

Dad had one sibling, a step-sister Janet Caroline (Lowe) Sjahri (1944-2016).

In March 1951, he married Doreen Mae Lowe (1934-2019) from Nassau, New Providence. She is the daughter of George BASIL Lowe (1905-1971) and Amy Adele Griffin (1898-1994).

Excerpt From Dad’s funeral program…

John Wesley was born on the small island of Green Turtle Cay of the Abaco chain in the northern part of the Bahamas on June 7, 1925 to the late Howard Lowe and the late Bessie Caroline Curry.   His name was chosen from each of his grandfathers’ names: John and Wesley.

John’s paternal grandfather, John Aquila Lowe (Grandpa Johnny) served as pastor of the Church of God in Green Turtle Cay.  John’s father, Howard, was the church clerk.  The church was situated on property adjacent to their home.   John’s mother took pride in making sure that kerosene lamps were filled with oil and that the church was clean and ready for the services. John was given the task of ringing the church bell to let the entire island know that the church service was about to start.

John’s mother became a widow at an early age, when John was only 2 ½ years old.  His maternal grandfather, Wesley (Pa Wes) Curry, moved in their home and was a major influence in John’s life.  Pa Wes was a fisherman, but after a long, frustrating day of no fish, he threw all of his fishing equipment overboard and purposed to farm the Abaco land. John loved to visit his farms and see the bananas and smell the sweet pineapples. Perhaps this is where John developed his love for fruit.

When John was 15 years of age, Pa Wes became ill, and a decision was made to take him to Nassau for medical attention.  John’s mother sold their little home for 120 pounds (less than $400) and boarded a boat to Nassau. John & his mother lived with his Aunt Emmie during this time, and at an early age John went to work to support his mother.  John’s mother would later remarry another fine Green Turtle Cay gentleman, the late Ashbourne Lowe.

In Nassau on November 8, 1946, while riding his bicycle, John passed by a revival service at a small brethren church.  John heard the preaching of Bill Patterson, jumped off his bicycle, and stuck his head in an open church window to listen. The gospel seed was planted, and later that evening after talking with his Grandma Millie, John accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. God had preserved John’s life through the disaster of the 1932 hurricane (Category 5) which decimated the small island. John also recalled God’s protecting hand when as a young boy, he and his cousin were almost crushed when a heavy loading dock wagon that they were joy riding slipped off the pier.  Both John and his cousin landed safely into the compartments of a dinghy below as the large wagon landed on top of the bottom.

John soon became acquainted with his aunt’s neighbors, the late George Basil & the late Amy Lowe and their children, in particular, with their second daughter, Doreen.  John would marry her on March 2, 1951 and have her as his faithful wife for 61 years. God blessed their marriage with 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 12 great-grand children.

Photo Album

Video created by his grandson Jason Lowe for Dad’s Memorial Service in 2013.