Sabithadevi Kothandapani

Sabitha was the eldest child of Smt Sarojini Devi (of Chennai, India) and Sri N.V. Pandurangam Naidu (of Secunderabad, India), born in February 1939 in Secunderabad, India. As the eldest child, she readily accepted the lead role to prepare for traditional daily prayers and meals for the day. Her hobby was to design and draw by hand simple to fairly complicated, hand-drawn kolams, traditionally made with rice flour, which are a South Indian art form symbolizing an auspicious welcome, inviting positive energy. Sabitha was brought up in the traditional South Indian culture which reflects in her soft spoken and modest lifestyle. Cooking was a passion, as was entertaining countless families over the years in her home. Guest was truly God to her. She was a pillar of both the India Association of Greater Mobile and the Gulf Coast Hindu Society, committing numerous volunteer hours to both organizations.

Her academic interests were World History and Math. She was married at the tender age of 19 to Mr. Kothandapani Virupaksha, and then joined him as he was pursuing graduate studies at UNC with their daughter Srikala in 1968. They then moved to Franklin, IN. Sabitha then had their youngest daughter, Rupa, in 1973. The family moved to Mobile in 1976.

Her parents and eldest daughter, Srikala preceded her in death. She is survived by her 90 year young spouse, Kothandapani Virupaksha and her youngest child Rupa, and her family: David, Maya and Deven; Ava and Max Katner, both grandchildren; Sarala Devi and Saya Devi, 2 younger sisters, of India; and 2 younger brothers, Suresh Babu of Willow Springs, IL and Jegdish Babu of Bartlett, TN. She has numerous cousins, nieces and nephews who all adored her.