In July 1949, groups of Abaconians gathered at docks. Whose gaze into the horizon might first spy the M/V Stede Bonnet as she made her routine port stops around the Abaco Cays?  The vessel carried replenishments of flour, sugar, kerosene, lumber and more from the colony’s capital Nassau on the island of New Providence.  These essential supplies helped sustain each settlement’s economy.  The anticipation of letters from loved ones created eagerness as the mailbag is delivered to the island’s postmaster. Excitement builds. Also on board, family and friends arrive, delighted to see familiar Abaco faces as they come to enjoy a summer respite. 

At the Green Turtle Cay dock, several local families anxiously await the mail boat’s arrival for a different reason.  They depart. Wilbert and Tessie Key with children Jettie and Berlin will soon board the vessel along with the family of Captain Roy and Nellie Lowe (children Ruth, Billy, Ira and Gary) to launch a new life in Nassau. As the boat pulled away from the dock, those on the island shore sang the customary farewell hymn, God be with you till we meet again.

Fourteen-year-old Jettie Key had recently completed her education at the Green Turtle Cay’s All Age School.  Her wind-blown red hair covers her face as the vessel leaves the dock.  Jettie ponders the family’s decision.  Relocation to city life in Nassau is needed to provide employment opportunities for her and eventually her younger brother Berlin. Nassau Registrar’s Office employee Audrey Saunders had relayed a job opening to the Key family.  Audrey recognized that Jettie’s easy-going mannered cousin would be the perfect fit.   

Born in early 1935, Jettie and younger brother Berlin shared left-handed dominance.  Jettie’s compassion developed at an early age as she helped tend needs of her brother born with clubfeet. This predicament had no possible remedy for island residents. His buddy Windsor Sawyer joined determined Berlin in his hampered pace to and from school. One day a visitor took note of Berlin’s need, talked with him and asked to visit his parents. This resulted in God’s miracle provision of foot surgeries in Florida to help Berlin walk.        

Jettie reminisced about her childhood on Green Turtle Cay.  She recounted… 

In the small settlement of New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay, it was wonderful to live along the seashore with family and friends. On hot afternoons an older lady, Ms. Levie Malone, in her long gown with long sleeves rolled up, swam with us. She left her shoes on shore and waded in. Like her, I wore an old play dress in the sea.  Ms. Levie taught us to swim.

Mama said that our island midwife, Ms. Margaret McIntosh, helped her in her long, difficult days of labor pains at my birth.  

 

We had a carefree childhood. My dad used his small dinghy sailboat to catch our fish meat. For fish bait, he used the common lobster – not considered a food item back then. Mama baked loaves of bread in our rock oven in the back yard. For supper each late afternoon before dark, we ate boiled fish with slices of bread that we dipped in the lime–flavoured sauce. Bread and fresh fish were the islanders’ main diet.  

While I lived on Green Turtle Cay, we had no electricity, no radio, no television. During World War II, people stood outside the house window of the one radio in town. Owned by English missionary Mr. Walter Kendrick, he turned up the volume to share and benefit all. We had no house screens. Hot summer evenings brought in mosquitoes and sand flies. Before dark Mama closed all the window shutters to lessen the disturbance stings and provide better sleep comfort.  

 

No bank existed on the islands. Over the bedroom doorframe, Mama kept coins—a copper, a penny, thrupence, sixpence, a shilling—I saw no paper money. We had none.  

On Saturday afternoon the island custom had all children scrubbed clean in a weekly sit-in-the-washtub bath. Dressed in our best, we then paraded up and down the island streets, round ‘n round. My childless Aunt Vernie Roberts and Uncle Ralph Russell kindly gave me a copper to go buy a piece of candy in Ms. Bessie Russell Roberts’ store. 

My family always went to church. In January 1946, an American missionary, Mr. Fred Oliver, visited to have meetings at the Green Turtle Cay Gospel Chapel. During those meetings, I gave my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. Mr. Fred Oliver quoted, If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved, Romans 10:9.  My best friend Sheila Sawyer did the same. I wrote in my Bible, “Blessed Friday night!” 

After the meeting, Dad and I walked to my maternal grandparents’ house where I’d often spend a weekend night. I shared my good news with them. Fondly, I remember my grandpa Will Roberts and I sat at the dining room table with lamp light, while Grandma Dora sat in her rocking chair. We had a happy time singing from the Redemption Song hymnbook. I remember one we sang, Loving Saviour, Hear My Cry, by Fanny Crosby. 

As the M/V Stede Bonnet left Green Turtle Cay we headed southeast towards Abaco’s mainland. Passengers noted landmarks before Marsh Harbour shoreline appeared in sight. Resident Mr. T. Eldred Lowe boarded. Father of 13 children, he owned the Marsh Harbour general store. Several times a year he went to Nassau for supplies. Like other islanders, out of necessity he wore many hats. One that distinguished him was his surveyor role. To attain this recognition, he studied higher mathematics with the International Correspondence School. Our Abaco Crown Land maps show his signature from 1908-1943. Today surveyors find his stone pillars intact. He also managed a sugarcane plantation, boiled and bottled syrup. In another venture a crew canned guava jam. The syrup and jam he sold and shipped to Nassau grocery stores.   

In the mail boat’s dining room, Mr. Eldred sat across from young Jettie at the supper table.  With a gentle smile he acknowledged, “You remind me of my daughters.” Jettie blushed from the stranger’s complement.  Little did she realize, divine providence would intersect their paths at a future date. 

On July 25, 1949, Jettie began her 11-year career at the Nassau Registrar’s Office with her cousin Audrey. She is quickly embraced by another red-headed Green Turtle Cay employee, Iva Lowe. Each payday Jettie handed her check to her mom to help in family expenses. On Saturdays, when the office closed at noon, Jettie helped her mother and her Uncle Anthony ‘Tony’ Roberts at the Argyle Dry Goods Store on Bay Street in downtown Nassau.  Customers appreciated the extended Saturday evening hours. Jettie recalls… 

One afternoon, I tried to help an older man-customer.

He asked, “Yinna get any Step-ins?” Step-ins? I’d never heard of Step-ins.  

I called to Mama, “Do we have any Step-ins?”

I saw Mama’s smile as she replied, “Yes, look for the underwear under the counter.” Mama translated.

Another time, a lady customer said, “Ise lookin’ for tin material.” Tin material? Nothing here tin colour!  So I called to Mama, “Do we have any tin material?” 

Mama softly laughed. Said, “Yes, the thin materials are on that far shelf.” I needed an interpreter. 

The Key family settled into a house in Centreville subdivision home on East Terrace. When minister Bill Patterson visited Nassau, the family attended several services around the corner at Shirley Heights Gospel Chapel on Mount Royal Street.  Here, Jettie noticed a tall, handsome young man. A relationship blossomed.   

On June 30th, 1957, Jettie married Lowell ‘Buddy’ Lowe, the grandson of T. Eldred Lowe, her Stede Bonnet supper companion who placed her among his daughters. Perhaps he had foresight? 

While in Nassau, Jettie reconnected with Green Turtle Cay transplant John Wesley Lowe.  Jettie’s mom Tessie and John are first cousins through their maternal Curry lineage.  Jettie recalled patriarch Pa Wes Curry’s dusk strolls around dusty New Plymouth with lantern in hand.  At the Cay, John’s mom, Bessie Curry Lowe, sold dry good materials in a little shop owned by Jettie’s mom. 

John and Jettie shared many childhood memories.   Jettie smirked as she reminisced about a particular day when young. Mischievous John noticed her little painted fingernails only to scrape it off. Their shared memories continued in Nassau with family beach picnics and fishing excursions. 

In December 1973, family medical needs forced a permanent move to Hollywood, Florida.  Here they joined the fellowship at Hollywood Bible Chapel.  Buddy and Jettie’s Hollywood home, where she lived for over 45 years, became known as the Lowe Hotel for Bahamas and Oregon relatives and friends. They welcomed all who came. Also served as mail and parcel collectors of items kept for delivery to Bahamas folk. 

Jettie’s comfort zone preferred background service like in the kitchen, or to do an act to help others.  

For 52 faithful years, Jettie appreciated Buddy’s humorous spice in married life. Their union produced four children: Jane Elizabeth, Nancy Caroline, Susan Anita, and David Edward.  Around 1963, Jettie chose Believer’s Baptism at Dudley & Valeria Sands’ Eastern Road home and beach. Buddy went to heaven in November 2009 at age 75. Jettie said,  

People have filled my life at home, on family picnics, in boat adventures, happy hand-cranked coconut ice cream freezing, many good times shared.  My heart often sings the chorus, My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, All I have to do is to follow. Sometimes I sing this truth out loud for the assurance it dispenses. 

Jettie’s warm, infectious smile brightened the heart of every person that experienced an interaction with her.  Her children and grandchildren delighted in the character of an easy-going, giving and loving island matriarch.

On September 20, 2023 Father God called and escorted Jettie from 88 years on earth to her prepared place in heaven with her Saviour Jesus. Her example encourages us to receive her baton and extend hospitality to others.