Basil Anthony Gavalas

Retired Businessman AUGUSTA, Ga.- Mr. Basil Anthony Gavalas, 94, husband of Mrs. Catherine C. Gavalas, entered into rest on Thursday, June 24, 2004 at University Hospital. Funeral services will be held at Elliott Sons Funeral Home, Telfair Street Chapel, on Saturday, June 26, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow Magnolia Cemetery. Mr. Gavalas was born in 1910 in Kalymnos, Greece and immigrated to the United States in 1929. He met and married Catherine Calomiros of Atlanta, Ga. in 1940 and made Augusta their home. Mr. Gavalas was owner and proprietor of Georgia Hatters and Cleaners for 40 years. He was a member of Holy Greek Orthodox Church where he served as the Church Council President for several years and was instrumental in initiating the building of the Hellenic Center and opening of the Greek Community Recreational Center at Clarks Hill. In addition to his duties as president of the Parish Council, he served as cantor for many years. In 1972, Mr. Gavalas founded Holy Archangels Chapel which is under the jurisdiction of the Genuine Orthodox Christian Church of Greece (Old Calendar). In addition to his wife of 63 years, Mr. Gavalas is survived by his children, Father Anthony Basil Gavalas and wife, Theodora L. Gavalas, Caliope Victoria Correa and husband, Joaquin Louis 'Lou' Correa, Michael Basil 'Mike' Gavalas and wife, Paige H. Gavalas, Nicholas Basil Gavalas, John Basil Gavalas and wife, Susan Gavalas; grandchildren, Catherine G. Tsouristakis and spouse, Alexander, Joanna G. Giovanelli and spouse, Steven, Miriam A. Gavalas and Basil A. Gavalas, all of New York City, Alexandra M. Gavalas, Catherine R. Gavalas and David N. Gavalas, all of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Basil M. Gavalas, Angela G. Fields and spouse, Robert and Michael L. Gavalas, all of Augusta, great-grandchildren, Anthony A. Tsouristakis, Elizabeth C. Tsouristakis, Nicholas T. Giovanelli, Robert Fields and Sasha B. Fields. Pallbearers for the funeral will be Basil Anthony Gavalas, Basil Michael Gavalas, Manuel Chaknis, Joseph L. Gavalas, David Nicholas Gavalas and Alan L. Nance. Mr. Gavalas will always be remembered and cherished by the Augusta Community, may his memory be eternal. In lieu of flowers, memorials to his memory may be made to Holy Protection Greek Orthodox Church, 26-37 12th St., Astoria, N.Y. 11102-3723. Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com