MARY HELEN PIRTLE

Mary Helen Pirtle was born February 19, 1943, in Jackson, Tennessee.  She was the daughter of Cutis Clarence Wilbourn and Nora Dennis Salton Hart.  Born to a large, loving, God-fearing family, early in life, she professed a belief in Christ. 

At the age of seven years, she with her family relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana.  As a family, they made St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church their place of worship.  Mary Helen was baptized, and she remained a member until her death.  Her church activities over the years included the Pastor’s Aide and Mass Choir.

In 1962, she was united in marriage with James Pirtle. 

Mary Helen completed her primary and secondary education in the Indianapolis Public School System.  Her love for children and learning lead her to select childcare as her vocation.  In 1972, she began working as a Kindergarten Aide at Indianapolis Public School #38.  From there she was employed in the Head Start program.  She also worked at L. S. Ayres Warehouse and Excelsior Laundry.  She last worked at Seventh Heaven Christian Academy as a teacher and in their childcare. 

Mary Helen was meticulous as a young lady.  Some said that you could actually eat off her floors.  She was also a great decorator.  She was a fashionable dresser, from head to toe, and she made certain that her children were always “fresh” too.  She was talented in theater arts as well, always putting on plays that she wrote, narrated, designed and made the costumes for, and she taught each of the participants their lines.  She enjoyed decorating her home for the holidays, Halloween in particular.

Mary Helen Pirtle, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, cousin, and friend to many, departed this earthly life April 2, 2025, at the age of eighty-two years one month and fourteen days.  She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved son, Tony Maurice Pirtle; grandsons, Maurice Pirtle, Lilroy Bush, Zaire Pirtle and DeAndre Pirtle; brother, Clifford McLester Wilbourn; sisters, Connie Harris, Teresa Dianne Hart Wallace (William “Billy” Wallace) and Fredlo Turientine (Carl Turientine), and sister-in-law, Dessie Hart.

Mary Helen Pirtle leaves to cherish her memory her daughters and son, Angela Pirtle Ford (Major). Terry Curtis Pirtle (Shirley) and Karen Lynn Brownlee Bush; daughter/granddaughter, Misty Govan (Pierre); thirty grand-children; twenty-eight great grandchildren; fourteen great-great-grand-children; siblings, Doris J. Wilbourn Winchester, Minister David Stanley Hart (Kathy), Lawrence Nelson Harris, and Calvin Harris (Felicia); three generations of nieces and nephews; bonus son-in-law, Roy Bush; godson, Bradley Hardwell; bonus grandson, Tony Smith, a multitude of cousins, other relatives, many loved ones, her beloved St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church family, and a host of friends.

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