Shelby County remembered John Alpha Lowe last week as a servant of the people, Air Force veteran and life-long firefighter.

Lowe died last Thursday at the age of 93 at Veterans&8217; Care Facility in Birmingham. A prominent figure in county politics, Lowe worked in various elected posts, off-and-on for five decades.

He served on the Shelby County Commission from 1975 until 1982. He is also a former three-term mayor of Vincent (1968-1974, 1996-2000) and a former member of the Shelby County Board of Education (1958-1968).

Lowe&8217;s colleagues remember him as a man who always operated under the mantra of &8220;do no harm.&8221;

&8220;He was very concerned about people,&8221; said Frank &8220;Butch&8221; Ellis Jr., who served as county attorney when Lowe was on the commission. &8220;If he didn&8217;t think it would benefit the people of the county, he didn&8217;t support it.&8221;

When elected mayor for the last time in 1996, Lowe was the state&8217;s oldest mayor at age 83.

Lowe also held several other positions in Vincent, including civil policeman, gas and water superintendent and fire chief.

He was buried at Macedonia Cemetery on Saturday