Mary Ann Copenhaver

Mary Ann (nee’ Wolf) Copenhaver passed on July 17, 2026 after a long battle with Dementia. She is preceded in death by her husband, William Haller (Hal) Copenhaver III. She is survived by son Stephen (Jodi) Copenhaver and daughter Carol (David) Ford as well as grandchildren Carolyn (Eric) Barnett, Laurel Copenhaver, Weston Ford (Rose McCarty), Jess Ford (fiancé Tiberius Leopard) and Matthew Ford.

Mary Ann was born and raised in Port Arthur, TX. She met a young engineer on a blind date, William Haller (Hal) Copenhaver, and married on June 18, 1960. She and Hal were married 38 years and cherished spending time with family and friends. Mary Ann and Hal lived in Greenville, SC for most of their married lives. Mary Ann remained in Greenville after Hal passed away in 1998. In 2018, when life started slowing down, she moved to Georgia to live with her children.

Mary Ann received a bachelor’s degree in Education from Texas Lutheran University in 1957. She taught school in Texas, Virginia and South Carolina. She loved teaching - and her students - and taught preschool for 25+ years at the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour Preschool. She was committed to her church family and served the congregation in many capacities including President of the LCOS Women, Church Council Chairperson, Confirmation Teacher, and Bible Study leader. She enjoyed cooking church dinners with the kitchen crew. No church meal was complete without Mary Ann’s green beans and chocolate pie.

Mary Ann loved music and had a song for every occasion. She was an accomplished pianist who enjoyed accompanying a group sing-along or playing for her own personal entertainment. She was an avid Clemson Tiger fan who always prepared a hearty tailgate meal for her Clemson children and their friends. She enjoyed ushering with her friends at local theater and concert productions, attending theatre productions with friends, dancing to Rod Stewart and Michael Bublé tunes, and lunching after church with “The Golden Group”.

Mary Ann spent lots of time with her grandchildren and vacationing with family. She always liked to plan fun activities and adventures for the grandkids like trips to the zoo, events at Roper Mountain, making crafts, and baking wonderful cookies. She attended her grandchildren’s school plays, soccer and football games, cheer competitions, and as many birthday parties as possible. Mary Ann was always caring for children – her own, her grandchildren, and her students. Her greatest legacy is knowing that so many children she taught became wonderful, productive adults – a fact which made her proud!

The burial will be private, and a Celebration of Life will be held on August 15, 2026 at 2:00pm at her home church, The Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Greenville, SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (www.curealz.org) or the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Greenville, SC (https://lcosgreenvillesc.org).