Bass as he was known to scores of people he reached out to to help in the Peekskill recovery community,lost his valient battle with cancer this week.
His warm smiling face was an uplift to many who knew him.
A longtime cabdriver in Peekskill, Bass served the youth in The Lebanon Baptist Church.
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In an Oct 13, 1996 NEW YORK TIMES article the following was written..."
''Black men should be taking care of young black men,'' said Pearl Woods, a Mount Lebanon member and the coordinator of the minority male youth empowerment project at the Peekskill Area Health Center, who first brought the two groups together. ''There are too many black women telling black men what to do. Through this program, we show them that there are strong men out there.''
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For many members of the Men's Fellowship, returning something to the community is a fundamental expression of their Christian belief. Reedie Bass, a mentor for the Minority Male Youth Empowerment Project and a member of the church's men's chorus and Men's Fellowship, said: ''Singing doesn't mean anything if we're not going to reach out and help somebody. We have to find out their needs, and get them back where they should be.''
Bass was a valued member of the Peekskill Group and the 12 and 12 group he will be missed.
A Memorial Service is planned at The Mt Lebanon Baptist Church Harrison Ave Peekskill, NY January 3, 2013 at 10 AM
