Maria Vlahos Cajoleas

Maria was a strong, beautiful lady who loved her family, friends and Church. Maria and her husband Jimmy were two of the founding members of the Holy Trinity Saint John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church in Jackson. Maria was instrumental in organizing the Ladies Philoptochos Society at the Greek Orthodox Church in Jackson and she served as the Society’s first President. She filled many roles throughout her years of service at the Church. Maria was a blessing to many friends and church members as she remembered them with frequent telephone calls and inspirational greeting cards. She never met a stranger and always placed others ahead of herself.

Maria was a loving Yia Yia (Greek for Grandmother) to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Although she could not be near all of them, she loved to hear about their activities and was eager to share the stories with her friends and other family members. Yia Yia kept albums and photographs of her grandchildren all over her home, smiling as she looked at them and often talked about her love for them. She always appreciated their phone calls and notes and loved talking about LSU football with them. She was a committed LSU fan and seldom missed watching the Tigers play football on television. Her husband Jimmy played quarterback for the Tigers in the late 1930’s.

Maria remained very close with her dear friends at the Greek Orthodox Church, all of whom were faithful to visit, bring her food, and take her to Church when she was able to go. She loved and appreciated them and always looked forward to their visits. When Maria moved to her apartment home, she became friends with a lovely group of ladies who gathered daily for coffee and would laugh and chat for hours on end. These ladies supported and loved her and continued to visit and call during her illness. Their friendships were one of the bright spots in her last years. We thank all of her friends for their love and support to her.

Maria was a wonderful example of strength and courage to our family. She was proud of her independence and she took care of her business, determined to not be a burden to others. She read her Bible and prayed for her family members and friends every day. She stayed in touch with her relatives throughout America and Greece and looked forward to their visits, telephone conversations and letters. We all were so proud of her. Her sweet spirit and faithfulness to those she loved will be missed.

She is survived by her son Pete James Cajoleas (wife Libby) who resides in Jackson and her daughter Irene James Poulos who resides in Houston, Texas. She is the Yia Yia to Demetri Poulos, Damian Poulos, Maria Christina Poulos, Jimmy Cajoleas and Christopher Cajoleas. Her great grandchildren are Barrett Poulos, Vivien Poulos, Henry Poulos, Stefania Simmons, and Christian James Simmons.

Visitation will be from 5-7pm Wednesday January 8, 2014 at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home on High St. in Jackson followed by a Trisagion Service at 7:00pm. The funeral service will be 10:30am Thursday January 9, 2014 at St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church preceded by visitation at 9:00am. Burial will follow in Lakewood Memorial Park.

If friends wish to make a memorial donation, the family requests consideration be made to the Holy Trinity and Saint John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church (5725 Pear Orchard Road, Jackson MS 39211) or Hospice Ministries,Inc. (450 Towne Center Blvd, Ridgeland MS 39157).