Paulette Dale Burroughs, 80, of Mechanicsville, MD, passed away peacefully at her home on May 21, 2024.
Born on February 22, 1944 in Rocky Mount, NC, she was the daughter of the late George Dennis Batts, Sr. and the late Pauline Dale Smith.

Paulette grew up in a Navy family and as a child traveled all over the country. Their travels eventually brought them to St. Mary's County where she planted her roots. She graduated from Margaret Brent High School in 1962. While there, she met her future husband, Eugene Wallace Burroughs, Sr. and they were married on November 21, 1964.

Paulette was a beautiful, smart, funny, creative and extremely talented woman. She loved her family and friends. She especially loved her grandchildren who she played with the heart and enthusiasm of a child herself. She loved to dance and was an excellent dancer. She was a hard and dedicated worker, at home and at the many jobs she had over the years. She was full of energy and unafraid to tackle any project, and spent many late hours perfecting them.

Paulette was probably best known for her artistic talent. There was nothing she could not do and do it to perfection. Some of her many talents included oil painting, quilting, and sewing, but she created so many other amazing things as well. We were all proud of the grand champion ribbons she won at the St. Mary's County Fair for her quilting and sewing skills.

Paulette was a member of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church where she performed many duties over the years including communion preparer and Sunday school and VBS teacher. She headed the food pantry for many years and volunteered with the fall yard sales, community blood drives at the church and Christmas in April. She also worked in the kitchen to help prepare meals after funerals. Putting her artistic talents to use for the church she crocheted the alter cover, led the craft group that made crafts for the Christmas bazaar and made hundreds of prayer shawls given to those in need.

Paulette is survived by her husband, Eugene Wallace Burroughs, Sr., her son, Eugene Wallace Burroughs, Jr. (Rhonda) of California, MD and her daughter Vicki Gay O'Reilly (Sean) of Mechanicsville, MD. Also surviving her are her brother Phil Batts (Janice) of Mechanicsville, MD, her sister Kathy Snipes (Steve) of Rocky Mount, NC, her sister Debra Winstead (Charles) of Rocky Mount, NC and her brother Joe Batts (Tereca) of Clayton, NC. Also surviving her are her grandchildren; Brittany Zalesak (Gregory), Evan O'Reilly, Ian Burroughs and Tessa O'Reilly and her great grandson, Charles Zalesak. She was preceded in death by her father, mother and brother, Dennis Batts, Jr.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM in Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Mechanicsville, MD, with Rev. Darryl Kemp officiating. Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association and/or Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.