Dorothy "Louise" Kernodle Mansfield

Dorothy Louise Kernodle Mansfield 89, of Burlington, NC known affectionately by close friends and family as Louise, passed away on February 13, 2026, in Alamance Co., North Carolina—the same county that witnessed her first breath on February 10, 1937. Louise's radiant spirit and enduring warmth remain indelibly etched in the hearts of those who loved her. Educated from the roots of life, Louise's most cherished classroom was her family. She lovingly reared her surviving children: her devoted son, Bobby Mansfield and his wife Patty; her daughters, Gail Bright and her husband Tommy, and Cindy Petty with her husband DL. Louise's vibrancy lives on through the lives of her sisters, Sally Barbee and Almeria Gammon, and brothers, Robert and Junie Kernodle. Her legacy is celebrated by her loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who will continue to share the stories of their matriarch's zest for life and boundless love. Although preceded in death by her dear husband, Leon Mansfield, her parents, Ruthie Westbrooks Kernodle and Andrew Bruce Kernodle, her loving sons, Jesse Mansfield, Raymond Mansfield, and David Kernodle, a daughter, Rita Wade and her two grandchildren, Christy Satterfield and Crystal Bare, she loved you all very much. Louise's professional journey included dedicated years as a CNA and her significant contributions to the textile industry. Her diligent work ethic, coupled with her compassionate nature, rendered her an indispensable member of every circle she was a part of. A devout Christian, Louise lived her faith through acts of kindness and her firm belief. She was a steadfast member of the Baptist community, embracing and embodying the virtues of her faith in her daily life. Louise Mansfield was the matriarch who captivated all with her "spice and sass" and possessed an infectious laugh that could fill an entire room with joy. A pilgrimage to the North Carolina mountains with her late husband, Leon, was among their most cherished endeavors, where they forged indelible memories embraced by nature's grandeur. To know Louise was to witness the embodiment of a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Her love was a canvas stretched across the mountains she adored, across the hearts she touched, and across the many lives she enriched. Though she has set off on her final journey, her spirit—like the timeless mountains she so loved—will continue to rise, unshakable and eternal, in the stories and memories shared by those she leaves behind.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday February 18, 2026 at the McClure Funeral Home Chapel in Graham with the Pastor Daniel Hollifield officiating. Burial will follow in Alamance Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Tuesday Evening February 17, 2026 from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to AuthoraCare Hospice at 914 Chapel Hill, Rd Burlington, NC. 27215.