Charles Curtis Copenhaver

Charles “Curtis” Copenhaver, 79, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2026, following a diagnosis of acute leukemia. 

Born on January 24, 1947, in Alexandria, Virginia, Curtis lived a life marked by purpose, faith, and a deep love for his family and the communities he served. Curtis believed deeply in the value of education and the power of service. He graduated from Marion High School in 1965 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Economics with a minor in Accounting from Emory & Henry College in 1969. He began his professional life as a fifth-grade teacher in Smyth County, Virginia, where his students quickly discovered that behind his warm humor was a steady presence and a natural gift for leadership. In time, Curtis discerned a calling to healthcare administration and pursued a master’s degree in Hospital Administration at the Medical College of Virginia, completing it in 1972. This decision marked the beginning of a distinguished four-decade career in healthcare leadership that would touch countless lives. Following his graduate studies, Curtis served his country from 1971 to 1974 as Assistant Administrator and Clinic Administrator at Chanute Air Force Base Regional Hospital in Rantoul, Illinois. After his military service, his discipline and leadership led him to Cabarrus Memorial Hospital, where he served as Associate Director for ten years. Curtis then stepped into executive leadership, serving as Chief Executive Officer of Margaret R. Pardee Memorial Hospital in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He later became CEO of Cleveland Memorial Hospital, where he oversaw the construction of a new 300-bed hospital and a 120-bed nursing home—among his most significant professional accomplishments. His influence continued to expand in Charlotte, where he served as Administrator and CEO of Mercy Hospital Systems. In this role, he oversaw CMC-Mercy, CMC-Pineville, and several specialty centers. He also played a key role in developing a new hospital in Belmont while serving as President of Carolinas Rehabilitation Center, the largest of its kind in the Southeast. Even in retirement, Curtis returned to serve as President of CMC-Northeast, reflecting his enduring belief that leadership is a lifelong calling.

Curtis was deeply committed to both professional and community service. He was a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the North Carolina Hospital Association, and he served on the Board of Trustees for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. In his local communities, Curtis contributed as a board member of the Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce and as a Rotary leader in both Concord and Shelby. He also served faithfully as an elder and deacon at First Presbyterian Church and as Chairman of the Public Service Division of the United Way. One of his most meaningful contributions began in 2014 with the establishment and leadership of the Foundation for a Healthy Carolina, a twenty-million-dollar initiative that provided free clinics, medical services, and grants to nonprofit community organizations. Through this work, he extended care and dignity to countless individuals and families. 

Curtis is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Alexina “Nena” Copenhaver; children: Carolyn “Cary” Copenhaver Hargrove (Phil Hargrove), Kristen “Kristi” Copenhaver Grogan (Todd Brower), and Charles Curtis “Chad” Copenhaver Jr. (Natalie Copenhaver); his sister, CJ Copenhaver (Deb Harlan); his sister and brother-in-law, Betsy and Lynn Sayers; and his ten cherished grandchildren: Alexina Hargrove Wrage (Ty), Hunter Cole Grogan (Katie), Carolyn Michelle “Mia” Hargrove, Lincoln Creed Hargrove (fiancée Mary Marshall Steele), Curtis Walker Grogan, Rosa Kevan Hargrove, Bailey Marie Grogan, Caroline Elizabeth Copenhaver, Olivia James Copenhaver, and Sinclair Charles Copenhaver. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Roger Copenhaver, and his brother, Roger Copenhaver. 

Curtis lived with a quiet, steady faith and a generosity that touched all who knew him. He found joy in life’s simple gifts—time on the water, a round of golf, a peaceful morning of fishing, the rhythm of music, and a cup of coffee shared with Nena. He valued relationships deeply and remained rooted in the people and places that shaped his earliest years in Marion. He took particular joy in investing in his grandchildren, encouraging them to live with integrity, gratitude, and kindness. Through his steady example, unwavering optimism, and genuine warmth, Curtis made others feel seen, valued, and loved. 

Curtis’s legacy extends far beyond the institutions he led. It lives in the people he guided, the communities he strengthened, and the countless lives touched by his compassion, humility, and faithful presence. Though he will be deeply missed, his life continues to bear fruit in those who carry forward his example.  

The family will receive friends on Monday, April 13, 2026, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Royal Oak Presbyterian Church, 139 W. Main Street, Marion, Virginia 24354. A funeral service will follow at 3:00 p.m., with the Rev. Phil Hargrove officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Cemetery, 4410 Lee Highway, Marion, Virginia 24354. 

In lieu of flowers The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Foundation for a Healthy Carolina(www.fftc.org/give_now), Royal Oak Presbyterian Church, or the Mel Leaman Free Clinic.

The Funeral Service for Curtis will be Live Streamed on Fraziers' Seaver Brown Funeral Service & Crematory Facebook page.

To share memories of Charles Curtis Copenhaver, please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for Curtis' family has been entrusted to Fraziers' Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory, 237 East Main Street, Marion, Va. 243254.