Obituary of Birdie M. Butts

Birdie Mae Greene was born in Binghamton, NY on May 30, 1924. She was the last child of Rosa B. and George R. Greene. Birdie was schooled in New York and obtained her Bachelors and Masters degrees here. In 1952, Birdie began working for the New York Civil Service Union and, in 1958, she began working for the New York State Department of Labor. Birdie worked and trained there until 1985 when she retired and began a second career with the Department of Education. On June 11, 1961, Birdie married John W. Butts, Jr. From that union, they were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, Birdia Renee. Birdia Renee was their only child. Birdie had a few health issues but recently became ill and was hospitalized. Unfortunately, on Sunday, August 15, 2021, at the age of 97 years young, Birdie passed away in Mercy Hospital, Nassau County, NY. Honoring her wish to be cremated, she was entrusted to the Long Island Cremation Company, Inc., in West Babylon. Birdie was preceded in death by her husband, John Butts (Lefty), her mother and father, Rosa and George Greene, sisters Carrie Belle Green, Martha Alston, Rosa Lee Greene and brothers, George Greene, Frank Greene, John Greene, and additional siblings. Her nieces, Carrie Belle Roebuck, Rosemary Gibbons and Rosa Maria Greene; nephews, William Alston Sr. and John Alston Sr.; nephew-in-law, Alfred Roebuck, Sr.; grand-nephews, John Alston, Jr., and Alfred Roebuck Jr; grand-nieces, Beatrice Flowe and Rae Elizabeth Alston, also preceded her. Left to mourn Birdie’s passing is her loving daughter, Birdia Renee Butts-Smith; grand-nieces, Marie Ann Davis (and family), Delia Linda King (and family), June Alston (and family), Joyce Parish (and family); grand-nephews, Willie B. Alston and Mark Alston; grand-niece in-law, Carolyn Roebuck; great-grand-niece, Deanne Carolyn Roebuck Jones (and family), Juan Garcia, and a host of additional nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.