Obituary
James “Big Jim” Karvelas, age 84, beloved husband of Grace Pitts Karvelas, died on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at his residence.
He was a son of the late John Karvelas and the late Aphrodite Karkania Karvelas, each of whom came from Greece. He attended the public schools of Jersey City, NJ and later attended the University of South Carolina when his family moved to Sumter for business reasons in June, 1944. He served with distinction in the Army Air Corp during World War II and later became the owner and operator of Big Jim’s restaurant for over 63 years. He was a 67- year continuous member of the Gamecock Club and lived to see Carolina football go 11-2. He was an active member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Columbia since 1947 and was a past President of the Parish council.
No one lived larger, joked harder, loved deeper, and cared more than Big Jim. We will miss his wit and his heart, and his telling us how to do it better.
Surviving in addition to his wife are: A son, John Karvelas and his wife Donna of Spartanburg; two daughters, Alexandra Huggins and her husband George of Cary, NC and Aphrodite Konduros and her husband Sam of Greenville; a niece Eve Stegner of Sumter; a nephew, Michael Poulos and his wife Julie of Asheville, NC; a stepson, Jeremy Pitts and his wife Anna of Sumter; a stepdaughter, Ali Rogers and her husband Jason of Sumter; Step-Grandchildren, Sydney Grace Rogers, Elizabeth Pitts “Liza” Rogers and Jackson Haynsworth Pitts.
Preceded in death by: his first wife, Christina Stathopoulos Karvelas, stepson Ryan Jackson Pitts; a sister, Elizabeth Poulos; and a brother Michael Karvelas.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 11:00am at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church with the Rev. Father Michael Platanis officiating. Burial will be held at 4:00pm in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be: Dan Lyles, Leigh Leventis, Sean Mitchell, John Psomas, George Nickas, Angelo Trifos, Phillip Jackson, Peter Diamaduros, Peter Currence, Likie Beleos and Mitchell Dargan.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 from 6-8pm with a Trisagion service at 7:30pm at Bullock Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1931 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29210.
You may sign the family’s guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com
The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.
He was a son of the late John Karvelas and the late Aphrodite Karkania Karvelas, each of whom came from Greece. He attended the public schools of Jersey City, NJ and later attended the University of South Carolina when his family moved to Sumter for business reasons in June, 1944. He served with distinction in the Army Air Corp during World War II and later became the owner and operator of Big Jim’s restaurant for over 63 years. He was a 67- year continuous member of the Gamecock Club and lived to see Carolina football go 11-2. He was an active member of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Columbia since 1947 and was a past President of the Parish council.
No one lived larger, joked harder, loved deeper, and cared more than Big Jim. We will miss his wit and his heart, and his telling us how to do it better.
Surviving in addition to his wife are: A son, John Karvelas and his wife Donna of Spartanburg; two daughters, Alexandra Huggins and her husband George of Cary, NC and Aphrodite Konduros and her husband Sam of Greenville; a niece Eve Stegner of Sumter; a nephew, Michael Poulos and his wife Julie of Asheville, NC; a stepson, Jeremy Pitts and his wife Anna of Sumter; a stepdaughter, Ali Rogers and her husband Jason of Sumter; Step-Grandchildren, Sydney Grace Rogers, Elizabeth Pitts “Liza” Rogers and Jackson Haynsworth Pitts.
Preceded in death by: his first wife, Christina Stathopoulos Karvelas, stepson Ryan Jackson Pitts; a sister, Elizabeth Poulos; and a brother Michael Karvelas.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 11:00am at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church with the Rev. Father Michael Platanis officiating. Burial will be held at 4:00pm in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be: Dan Lyles, Leigh Leventis, Sean Mitchell, John Psomas, George Nickas, Angelo Trifos, Phillip Jackson, Peter Diamaduros, Peter Currence, Likie Beleos and Mitchell Dargan.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 from 6-8pm with a Trisagion service at 7:30pm at Bullock Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1931 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29210.
You may sign the family’s guest book at www.bullockfuneralhome.com
The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.
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