Mary Ellen Birts, passionately known as "Gabby", was born October 21, 1945 in Meriwether County, Georgia to the late Leonard Bowles, Sr. and Mae Bell Bowles. She was the third child of eleven children. She departed this life on Friday, June 10, 2016.

Mary attended school in Meriwether and Coweta County School Systems as well as Dade County, Florida School System. She was employed with Royal Molding Products, Inc. and Shaw Industries up until she retired. She joined Mount Sinai Baptist Church at an early age.

Mary joined in holy matrimony to Arthur Birts, Jr on March 21, 1966. They celebrated their 50th anniversary this year.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Leonard Bowles, Sr.; her brothers, James Bowles, John Bowles, William Bowles, and Ronald Bowles; and her sisters, Virginia Anderson and Bernice Adams.

Mary is survived by her loving husband, Arthur Birts, Jr. of Greenville, Georgia; children, Deborah Bowles and Gladys Birts both of Newnan, Georgia, Samuel Birts (Angela) of Senoia, Georgia, and Shakena Birts of Greenville, Georgia; grandchildren, DeAngelo Johnson (Lakisha) of LaGrange, Georgia, Landrico Birts of Senoia, Georgia, Channing Bowles and Mikayla Coverson both of Newnan, Georgia, Kerrion Birts of Senoia, Georgia, ZyQuevious Hutchins and Camryn Favors of Greenville, Georgia; great-grandchilren, MarKeyvia Talley, DeAngelo Johnson, Jr., ZaKyah Fuller, Jaylen Johnson, Malik Fuller, Makhi Fuller, and Landrea Birts; mother, Mae Bell Bowles of Moreland, Georgia; brothers, Leonard Bowles, Jr. (Janet) of Luthersville, Georgia and David Bowles of Moreland, Georgia; sisters, Barbara Woodall of Moreland, Georgia and Mary Tucker (James) of Newnan, Georgia; aunts, Mary Boozer of Moreland, Georgia, Mimmie Mayner of Gay, Georgia, and Thelma Mayner of Atlanta, Georgia; brothers-in-law, Edward Adams and Wendall Anderson, Sr. both of Luthersville, Georgia, Eddie Birts (Emily) and Charlie Birts both of Greenville, Georgia; sisters-in-law, Carrie Bowles of Luthersville, Georgia, Viola Parham and Gladys Birts both of Atlanta, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

INTERMENT: Mount Sinai Baptist Church Cemetery