Maxine Dracakis

Maxine Dracakis, 85, of Atlanta, GA, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2025, with her two loving daughters at her side.

Born on February 7, 1940, in Hendersonville, NC, to Nicholas Trakas and Catherine Trakas Malavis, Maxine grew up in Columbus, OH, and graduated from Central High School in 1958. During her school years, she worked part-time as a model, cultivating the keen sense of style she would be known for throughout her life.

In 1957, while accompanying her sister to a youth choir convention in Youngstown, OH, Maxine met the love of her life, Emanuel "Manny" Dracakis. After four years of courtship, "Manny and Max" were married on April 30, 1961, and began their life together in Parma, OH. They welcomed their first daughter, Renee, in 1963 and their second daughter, Nicole, in 1975.

The couple moved several times for Manny's career, living in Toledo and Brunswick before settling in the Cincinnati area in 1981. There, Maxine became an active member of Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, serving in Philoptochos, Mother's Club, and lending her baking talents to the parish's annual Greek Festival.

After Manny's passing, Maxine relocated to Atlanta in 2022 to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren. She embraced this new chapter of life by tending her garden, caring for loved ones, and enthusiastically attending her grandchildren's equestrian competitions, football games, and lacrosse matches.

Maxine will be remembered for her Greek cooking, her deep love of animals, and her passion for history. She had a gift for storytelling, and her humor and warmth made friends of strangers wherever she went.

She is survived by her daughters, Renee Dracakis (Stephen Turpin) and Nicole Adams (Christo), both of Brookhaven, GA; grandchildren Ava Turpin, Nicolas Adams, Nolan Adams, and Van Adams; her brother, John Trakas; her sister-in-law, Rosemary Jianopoulos; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine Malavis and Nicholas Trakas; her sister, Maria Trakas; her sister-in-law, Marcia Trakas; her brother-in-law, John Jianopoulos; and her beloved husband, Emanuel Dracakis.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, September 29, at 10:00 AM at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta, GA, with visitation beginning at 9:00 AM. A private burial service will follow at Union Cemetery in Columbus, OH at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Maxine's name to the Lewy Body Dementia Association.