Mary "Mary Lou" Love Manuel

Mary “Mary Lou” Love Manuel, 68, of Reidsville, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, January 23, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Faith Baptist Church, with Pastor Lonnie Sorrell officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday at Wilkerson Funeral Home.

Mary was born in Martinsville, Virginia, to the late Herbert Hoover Love and Thelma Seay Love. She grew up in Collinsville, Virginia, where she built the foundation of a life rooted in faith and family. Her faith was a guiding force throughout her life. She was a devoted member of Faith Baptist Church for nearly 40 years, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. That church was not just a place she attended—it was part of who she was. Mary also worked alongside her husband, helping run M & H Body Shop for close to 40 years. She was a steady, reliable presence there and a tremendous help in keeping everything going.

She loved simple joys—packing a picnic, spending time outdoors, and especially being with her grandchildren. Some of her sweetest moments were shared over ice cream with them. Mary had a creative heart. She wrote many songs and poems, and her well-worn Bible—with underlined passages, highlighted verses, and pages nearly falling apart—was a true reflection of her devotion. Above all, she was a loving mother who raised her children right, giving them a strong foundation that will continue to carry on her legacy.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Lee Manuel. She is survived by her son, Brandon Lee Manuel, his wife, Meg, and their children, Katherine and Benjamin; her step-daughter, Chanda Manuel Trent, and her children, Dale Manuel and Remington Trent; and her siblings, Sherry Philpott, Timothy “Tim” Love, and Karen Turney. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.