Grace Vakos Dragas

Grace Vakos Dragas, 86, passed away peacefully and surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren on March 15, 2021. From being born into a family of eleven children to becoming mother to four and grandmother to a dozen doting grandchildren, nurturing family was her greatest joy and her life's most important work.

Grace was born in Norfolk, VA, to the late William and Mary Ellamae Vakos, who engaged all of their children in their work as early pioneers in the Virginia Beach resort hotel industry.

Grace played softball and basketball (scoring 30 points in one game!) and served as May Day Queen for Oceana High School. In 1957, she graduated with a degree in psychology from Mary Washington College, then a division of the University of Virginia, where she was a member of multiple honor societies and joined the American Association of University Women.

She married the love of her life, George Dragas, Jr. in 1959 and they shared nearly 60 years of happiness, adventure, travel, entertaining, philanthropy, and civic engagement until his passing in 2019. Grace retired from teaching school at John B. Dey Elementary to raise their four daughters. She served as President of the Colonial Circle of the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters and tirelessly supported George as he founded and then built The Dragas Companies into a successful real estate enterprise.

Grace enjoyed tennis and golf and cultivated a masterful skill as a gourmet cook. A curated dinner party originating from Grace's kitchen was a delectable and festive event not to be missed and large family gatherings at her table were common happenings. She enjoyed gardening and rarely missed a child's or grandchild's school or athletic event. Fiercely loyal, she challenged herself and her loved ones to excel in every endeavor but was nonetheless always empathetic and supportive when obstacles were encountered or plans were changed. Her protective drive and intense passion will be sorely missed.

Grace is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Anita D. Weaver and H. Mac Weaver II, Helen E. Dragas, Mary D. Shearin and M. Lee Shearin Jr., Jennifer D. Stedfast and Jeffrey M. Stedfast, and twelve adoring grandchildren: Grace Cole Weaver, H. Mac Weaver III, Brooke Weaver, L. Grace Webb, Stuart Webb, L. Warrington Webb IV, Taylor Shearin, Holly Shearin, Lee Shearin, Alden Stedfast, George Stedfast, and Ellis Stedfast. She was preceded in death by her brother, George Vakos, and her sisters, Jeanne and Estelle.

The family wishes to extend its heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Barbara Parks for her capable care and to a remarkable team of dedicated nurses for their compassionate support: Christiana, Linda, Amma, Angela, Tameka, Marcia, Chanee, Kim, and Pigeon.

The family will receive friends from 4:30-6:30 pm on Friday March 19, 2021 in H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Rd Chapel. Funeral and burial services will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in honor of Grace's service to its mission. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.