Evdoxia Michaels

Evdoxia (Effie) Michaels, 82, passed away on June 29, 2024, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loving family.
Effie was born on October 4, 1941, in Serres, Greece, eldest daughter of Georgios and Evangelia Elioglou. Her upbringing in Serres instilled in her a deep appreciation for family and community, qualities that would shape her life.
Effie's journey with her beloved husband of 52 years, Danny, began in 1960 while he was in Athens with the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt (CVA-42). While visiting his grandparents in Thessaloniki, his parents had arranged for him to meet the daughter of close family friends. According to his Navy buddies, Danny was reluctant to meet Effie, presuming he would not be interested in a "country girl." Upon their introduction, however, Danny was smitten. Her beauty and warmth captivated him, and he was speechless. They became engaged, and at age 19, Effie made the courageous decision to leave Serres and move to Charlotte, NC, with Danny's parents until they married in 1961. Danny passed away in 2013.
Effie's life was centered around her family and faith. As a devoted homemaker, she prioritized supporting her husband and raising their two sons, Jim and George. She poured her heart into creating a loving home during their Navy relocations across the country, from Florida to Arizona to Northern Virginia and ultimately, Virginia Beach. She faced the challenges of Danny's deployments to Vietnam with strength and resilience, supported by her many dear friends and the close-knit communities she built through the Navy and the Greek Church. Despite the hardships, she enjoyed the Navy life and loved to entertain as the quintessential Skipper's Wife, "First Lady" during his command at NAS Oceana and "Queen" Neptune VII. She was committed to her community, serving as President of Philoptochos and contributing selflessly to many church activities and services.
She loved spending time with her many friends, whether connecting on the phone, over a meal in her home, at happy hour at the local oyster bar or with a glass of wine in the driveway. Above all, being with her family brought her the most joy. She cherished every moment she had with them.
Effie is survived by her son Jim of San Francisco, grandchildren Jacob and Antigone of San Francisco and San Diego, and daughter-in-law, Jean; son George and daughter-in-law Pamela of Virginia Beach; sister Toula and brother Yanni in Greece; and many nieces, nephews and friends in both the U.S. and Greece.
A visitation and Trisagion service will be held on Monday, July 8, 2024, at 5:30 PM at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Laskin Road Chapel. The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Norfolk, officiated by the Reverend Father George Bessinas. Interment with Danny at Arlington National Cemetery will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Philoptochos Society, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 7220 Granby St., Norfolk, VA 23505.