Mary Beth (Cope) Lakshmanan

Mary Beth (Cope) Lakshmanan, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2025, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 81 years old.

Born on February 12, 1944, in French Lick, Indiana, to Calvin Cope and Bernice Brown, Mary Beth’s life was marked by grace, intelligence, and compassion. From an early age, she stood out as a scholar and leader, graduating as Valedictorian of French Lick High School in 1962. She went on to pursue nursing at Indiana University, earning her Registered Nursing degree in 1969, where she also met her loving husband, Suryanarayan (“Laks”) Lakshmanan. The two were married in 1970 and together they raised two daughters, Janani Buford (Tim) and Meera Rae (Peter), who were the center of Mary Beth’s world. She was a devoted mother, wise counselor, and constant encourager, always reminding her children that love and integrity were the truest measures of a life well lived.

Mary Beth served as Head Nurse in the Acute Care Unit at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut, for over a decade, where her leadership, empathy, and calm strength inspired both colleagues and patients alike. During this period, she also earned her master’s degree in nursing.

After retiring from nursing, Mary Beth embraced a new chapter as a small business owner, running the Dream Dinners of Fort Mill franchise alongside her daughter, Meera, from 2006 to 2013.

While she earned many titles throughout her lifetime, her role as Grandma was one she cherished deeply. Her five grandchildren — Emily (22), Sean (19), Taylor (16), Whitney (16), and Cassidy (12) — were her pride and joy. Whether cheering from the sidelines, offering gentle wisdom, or sharing quiet moments of laughter and stories, Mary Beth’s love for them knew no bounds. She also shared a special and lasting bond with her niece Meera Cirian (Steve and Helena), who lived nearby and held a treasured place in her heart. Their closeness brought her great comfort and joy over the years.

Mary Beth was a woman of many passions. She was an avid golfer, a talented seamstress and quilter, and a world traveler who found joy in exploring new cultures and landscapes with family and friends.

Mary Beth’s life was a quiet testament to love, resilience, and grace. She will be remembered for her generous heart and her deep devotion to her family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church,8601 Bryant Farms Road, Charlotte, NC 28277.

Though she is no longer with us, her spirit lives on in the laughter of her grandchildren and the love that will forever bind her family together.

“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary Beth’s honor to Alzheimer’s Association

Alzheimer's Foundation of America