Barbara Patricia Lowery

Barbara Patricia Jean Lowery died at St. Francis Hospital on February 19, 2012 after a long illness. Born February 19, 1944 in Eustis, Florida, she was the third child of Dorothy Reaves Washington and Rev. Dr. Coleman C. Reaves. Barbara and her siblings were raised by her maternal grandparents, Eli and Mamie Gilbert, in Mount Dora, Florida, where she attended Milner-Rosenwald Academy and Eustis High School. "Pat," as she is affectionately known by her family and friends, loved singing and performing at the Greater St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church on Sundays. She always helped coordinate Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets along with hosting teas and other social events with her church family and other non-profit organizations. Pat loved helping people; this was her life's work and is something she carried with her throughout her adulthood. Because of her ability to acquire skills quickly and her engaging personality, Pat was capable of finding employment in many fields, and this she did. Over the years, she worked as a home health care provider, with her family in their catering business, and for the YWCA. In 1995, impressed with Pat's story of her endurance, her ability to work through adversity, and her many outreach efforts toward the poor of Wilmington, Charles Cawley, then Chairman and CEO of MBNA, hired Pat. She may well be the only person in Wilmington hired directly by Mr. Charles M. Cawley, himself! For several years, as an employee of MBNA, Pat worked at Sojourners' Place and built a very large feeding program on Wilmington's east side - a program she eventually got MBNA to underwrite. In addition, she initiated and directed annual gospel concerts designed to raise money first for Sojourners' Place, and eventually for several other local facilities for the homeless as well. Most recently, Pat was employed by the Wellness Community of Delaware. As a Community-Based Coordinator, she provided educational and support programs to urban Wilmington communities, especially to the medically underserved. Wilmington has lost a gem that cannot be replaced; many great deeds will go undone without her generosity. Pat enjoyed family gatherings and especially loved cooking her favorite foods, cornbread and ribs, with her sister, Willa - and later, irritating Willa by vacuuming the floors at 2:00 AM! She also enjoyed going to Delaware Park. With Willa, she started clothing and feeding programs for homeless families. Pat leaves to mourn: her husband, Voshell, her father Rev. Coleman C. Reaves of Florida, her step-daughter, Heather Lowery of New York, and step-sons, Eddie and Jason Lowery of Wilmington. She is also survived by her Godson, Darius Williams, and a host of loving relatives including uncles, nieces, a nephew, cousins, and many dedicated and caring friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Washington, her sister, Willa Edwards and brothers Ted and Wayne Reaves. In Pat's memory, donations may be made to Sojourners' Place, 2901 Northeast Boulevard, Wilmington, Delaware 19802. Read Barbara Lowery's Obituary and Guestbook on houseofwrightmortuary.com.