Margaret Mansfield Wilkinson

Obituary: Margaret "Peggy" Mansfield Wilkinson, of Kannapolis died peacefully on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 surrounded by friends, family, and caregivers who loved her. Born January 4, 1915 in Zion, Illinois as the only daughter of Margaret Miller and Henry Patrick Mansfield, she and two brothers moved with their parents to Leaksville, NC in 1917. There she met Richard W. "Dick" Wilkinson. They were married in 1945 and ultimately made their home in Kannapolis, NC where they reared one son and two daughters. Peggy was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker. She was an excellent cook and had a collection of more than 100 cookbooks from throughout the south. The Daily Independent Named Peggy the 1985 Citizen of the Year calling her a "consummate volunteer ...and because of her tireless community service... (She) is a superlative in her field..." Others said that "She is probably the most self-giving person I've ever known. She's just a loving and giving person." Peggy served on the board of Cabarrus Cooperative Ministries, recruiting and helping train almost 75 volunteers. The director at the time said "she helps people see what needs to be done and pitches in and does." Peggy sang in the church choir and served on numerous committees and education programs at Kimball Lutheran Church where she might pour communion for an evening service before leaving to join a Red Cross bloodmobile on the 11 pm to 7 am shift at Cannon Mills. She was a member of the board of directors for Hospice, the L.I.F.E. Center, the American Red Cross, Kan-La-Con Community Concert Association, Centralina Council of Government, Lutheran Family Services Support committee, and was a member of the Kannapolis Pilot Club. Peggy worked with Cabarrus Memorial Hospital (Northeast Medical Center) for sixteen years in a volunteer capacity and twelve years as a staff member. "Miss Peggy" worked as a receptionist in Outpatient Surgery and the Cardiac Care, serving as a liaison between the medical staff and family members of their patients. This work was her passion. A disabling accident precipitated her retirement at age 87. Peggy was preceeded in death by her husband of 29 years, Dick, and by her daughter Brenda Wilkinson Hunt and her husband Bill. She is survived by her son Richard Wilkinson and his wife Linda of Heathrow, FL and a daughter Fran Wilkinson Garver and her husband Keith of Kannapolis, NC. She was very proud of her seven college educated grandsons: Trey, Christian, and Peter Hunt; John and Lee Garver, and Brantt and Blake Wilkinson and a great granddaughter, Anna Gray Garver. She rarely missed a chance to tell them just how proud she was. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church officiated by Rev. Scott Swix. Private burial will take place at Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends after the service at church. Memorials may be made to Kimball Lutheran Church % Pastors Discretionary Fund, 101 Vance Ave., Kannapolis, NC and/or Cabarrus Cooperative Christian Ministry, PO Box 1717 Concord, NC 28026-1717.
Visitation: The family will receive friends after the service.

Service: A memorial service will be held at 11:00a.m., Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church.

Interment: Burial will be private