Demetrious, Katina

Darlington- Katina Papaioannou Demetrious, widow of Chris Nicholas Demetrious, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2011. Katina Demetrious was born in Karpenisi, Evrytania, Greece on October 3, 1922, the daughter of Maria and Paul Papaioannou. She graduated from the public schools in Karpenisi and attended the University of Athens. In 1946, she traveled to the United States with her uncle, John Liapis. She met her future husband, Chris, in Virginia and they were married in Danville, Virginia on January 26, 1947. They settled in Darlington where Katina immersed herself in her family, community and church. In 1948, her only son Nicky was born and he was the light of her life until his death in 2009. In 1950, Katina established The Dairy Bar, a Darlington landmark which the Demetrious family still owns and operates. For over twenty-five years she and her husband managed the Dairy Bar and their other restaurant, the Carolina Lunch. Their son, Nicky, joined them and managed the family businesses until his death. Katina and Chris Demetrious were founding members of the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in Florence where Katina was an active member of the Ladies Philoptochos Society. She also taught the church‘s Greek School for several years. In 1984 Katina organized and served as chairman of the church‘s Iconography Committee for over fifteen years. The final phase of the Iconography, the Pantocratora, will be completed by Chris and Katina‘s daughters in memory of their parents. Katina Demetrious was an active participant of the revitalization efforts in Darlington. Mr. and Mrs. Demetrious were major benefactors of the J.C. Daniel Center for the Performing Arts where the concert hall has been named in their honor. Mrs. Demetrious was also an honorary chair of the committee to restore the Carnegie Library which has been designated as the Darlington Museum of History and Fine Arts. For over forty years she was an active member of the Kalmia Study Garden Club in Darlington. Katina lived an exceptional life filled with the love of her family, her friends, her church and her hometown, Darlington. Surviving are her daughters, Mary of Darlington and Paula and her husband Jack W. Lawson of Florence, three granddaughters: Mary Katherine Lawson of New York City, Charlotte and her husband Kevin Culotta of Wilmington, NC and Jacqueline Christina “Jaycie” of Florence. Also, her sister and brother-in-law, Electra and Bill Avramapoulos of Athens, Greece and Kifissia, and her brother and sister-in-law Haralambos and Chrisoula Papaioannou of Karpenisi and a special niece, Georgia Hamberis of Darlington. Also nephews, Iraklis Avramopoulos and wife Irene of Athens, Greece; Pavlos Papaioannou and his wife Nika of Karpenisi and niece Mary and her husband, Panayioti Spirou of Athens, Greece. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 21 at the Transfiguration of our Saviour Greek Orthodox Church in Florence conducted by Father Athanasios Haros. Graveside services will be held following the funeral at Grove Hill Cemetery in Darlington. A Trisagion service will be held Thursday, January 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Belk Funeral Home in Darlington, with visitation following. Memorials may be made to the Transfiguration of our Savior Greek Orthodox Church Iconography Fund, 2990 S. Cashua Street, Florence, SC, Darlington Museum of History and Fine Arts, c/o City of Darlington, PO Box 57, Darlington, SC 29540 or Darlington Rescue Squad, 107 Sycamore Street, Darlington, SC 29532 or Susan Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Darlington Presbyterian church, 311 Pearl Street, Darlington, SC 29532