Bessie Lowe, of Amityville, who coordinated the Town of Babylon's food pantry services, dies at 71

Whether she was at a social gathering or worshipping in church, Bessie Lowe offered love, a smile and a prayer, her family said.

"Bessie loved to celebrate life and be surrounded by family and friends. She was a beautiful, humble person, who treated others with kindness, respect and genuine love," said her niece Jovonna Rodriguez, of Amityville.

Lowe died of heart failure on Aug. 7, at age 71.

She was born on May 3, 1955, in Livingston, Alabama, and moved to Amityville in the early 1980s. She graduated from St. Joseph’s College with a bachelor’s degree in human services in 2022 and earned her master's in 2024, at age 69.

Lowe was a Town of Babylon staff member in the Department of Human Services,    where she prepared food donations for residents, scheduled intake appointments for HEAP and Project Warmth and did various clerical duties.

She also coordinated the department's food pantry services, Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas programs, which encourage Babylon staff to adopt a family by providing food and presents for children during the holidays.

"She made it her mission to assist anyone who walked through the doors of the Human Services Department," said Rodriguez. "She had a remarkable way of making a person feel seen, valued and cared for."

Madeline Quintyne, who was Lowe's supervisor with the town, said  she was grateful for every person Lowe helped.

"There are some people who come into your life and then there are those rare and precious souls whom God places in your life for a divine purpose. Bessie Lowe was one of those people," said Quintyne, of North Babylon. "She was my friend, my sister friend, my co-worker, my companion on this spiritual walk and she was a woman whose every presence could make you feel like you had encountered one of God’s angels."

According to her niece, Lowe loved "getting dressed and looking fabulous" and "knew how to make an entrance with her smile and style of fashion." She also enjoyed spending time with her family, her church family and friends, and helping others.

When asked how Lowe would want to be remembered, Rodriguez said her aunt would want to leave people with a final message: "to keep God first, love your family, cherish your friendships, forgive often, give generously, and never stop enjoying the life you have been blessed with."

"She would want people to always make room in their hearts for someone who needs love," Rodriguez said. "That is the legacy Bessie leaves behind — a legacy of love that will continue every time someone chooses kindness, offers a prayer, gives from the heart, gathers with family, or simply makes another person feel loved."

In addition to her niece, Lowe is survived by her son, Terrell Taylor. A funeral was held on Aug. 20, at Prayers Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Amityville followed by interment at Amityville Cemetery.