Evangeline Gouvas

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Evangeline Makris Gouvas, our loving devoted mother, and friend to all whose lives she touched, on 29 December 2020, at the age of 92. Her passing coincides with her mother, Mary Makris, on 29 December 1989.

She was predeceased by her husband, John Demetrious Gouvas (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania); father, Michael Nick Makris (Tripolis, Greece); mother, Mary (Marigo) Panoupoulos (Livithi, Greece); brothers: Nick Makris, Michael Makris, George Makris; and sister, Helen (Makris) Tiscia. She is survived by her sister, Sophie Sousoulas (Dr. James Sousoulas) of Memphis, Tennessee; daughters: Maria Christina Gouvas (Graham Williams) of London, United Kingdom, and Patti Gouvas of Atlanta, Georgia; and beloved nieces and nephews.

Born 30 November 1928 in Memphis, Tennessee, Evangeline witnessed incredible changes to her world. Her father owned a dry-cleaning business for 45 years in Memphis and invested in real estate. A self-made man, Evangeline modeled her life after his, keenly observant of his business acumen, while furthering her education. She attended Maury Grammar and Humes High School. The parting inscription in her school autobiography from her teacher Margaret Thompson: “To thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not be false to any man.” Following high school, she attended and graduated from Memphis Business College.

From 1947 to 1953, Evangeline worked for Sears Roebuck and Company in Memphis, Tennessee. She was secretary to the Assistant Credit Manager, R. C. Highsmith. The General Manager of Sears turned his correspondence over to Evangeline through Mr. Highsmith owing to her scholarly, grammatical, letter perfect responses. Her assessment of that position was one of fine honing her discipline in writing, which led to formatting the Sears Catalogue. She maintained that position until her marriage in 1953.

In 1953, Mrs. Gouvas and husband, John, resided in Evansville, Indiana. John ran a restaurant at Camp Breckinridge. Evangeline completed her United States Civil Service Commission certification, rating and appointment as a Stenographer and Typist.

Following their move to Valdosta, Georgia, Evangeline worked for A. R. Shirley, Director and State Forester, Georgia Forestry Commission. Evangeline wrote executive level reports and letters in this position. A demand for products derived from Southern Pines, and in turn, a major export and demand came from the English Navy. Under his leadership, Georgia became the first state to produce genetically improved tree seedlings from an established seed orchard. He developed the first forest fire fighting organization in the nation with the lowest average fire size. She left this position to move to Atlanta, where her husband, John opened a restaurant.

Upon moving to Atlanta, Evangeline worked for Fruehauf Trailer Company. She was
secretary to D. B. McCall, Regional Credit Manager. Her enthusiasm for this position was related to Mr. McCall being a highly intelligent and gifted person. She was offered a position in Detroit, Michigan, when the office was transferred, but declined in order to remain in Atlanta to further her husband John’s pursuit in the restaurant business.

Thereafter, Evangeline worked for the General Electric Company in Assemblies and Component Sales. She set up procedure and files and was secretary to an engineer, W. C. Thorne as well as two other salesmen. Evangeline referred to this position as a “one girl office.” Her administrative duties included writing quotations for the company. Kurt Vonnegut also wrote for GE. Evangeline left this position to begin a family.

Evangeline aptly referred to motherhood as a busy career. She chose to remain at home from 1957 through 1962 as she felt she could not replace the formative years in her children’s lives. The preschool years were most happy and meaningful, and cemented a relationship between parent and child which could never be replaced. After they began school, she resumed her business career.

In 1962, Evangeline was employed by E. Randolph Macon. He was the sales representative for Williams Furniture Division of Georgia-Pacific, Sumpter, South Carolina. He served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Atlanta Merchandise Mart and was a builder of apartment complexes in Atlanta, GA. Evangeline was an officer in the incorporation of the Williams Furniture Division, Turn Key, Inc. administering contract furnishings for offices and apartments. It was solely run by Evangeline, working with banks, factory representatives and sales agents. She had the opportunity to compose letters and perform all phases of office work, both administrative and clerical. In addition, she decorated and set up the showroom. Her duties included handling the accounts payable and receivable, filing commission reports, public relations and leasing. She referred to this position as “wearing many hats.” There was no function, too small, or too large in which she adapted herself, willingly and with initiative. It was backbreaking at times, but the knowledge gained was invaluable to her. She called it “magic” making tasks possible. She valued the trust and confidence placed in her throughout her tenure.

When Mr. Macon moved his office to his home, his recommendation about Evangeline stated it was difficult and a challenge to list all of her abilities. Foremost, he chronicled her honesty, moral character and personality being a way of life for her. He stated she possessed skills to the highest degree and that she had the unusual ability to excel at any task assigned to her. He referred to her as a tireless worker assuming responsibility beyond the line of duty. He called her a rare perfectionist without the normal peculiarities associated with perfectionists. His summation that a “fall out benefit” was that she was “most pleasant to be around” spoke volumes about her desirability in a corporate setting. His forewarning was that the interviewer for her next position would be subject to questions and that she was not just looking for a “job” but a challenging position.

Evangeline worked at E & B Carpets for Richard (Bob) Dodd at The Atlanta Merchandise Mart. She processed work to the home office in Arlington, Texas. This was the beginning of the telex era, enabling mass mailings and expediting correspondence with the Dalton plant and all areas of office administration. Following Mr. Dodd’s promotion, Evangeline resigned from that position.

In 1974, Evangeline worked for the Mission board at the Presbyterian Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She was secretary in the Division of International Mission to William (Bill) Rice. Her work consisted of overseas correspondence. She prepared quarterly reports for board meetings. She was responsible for monies received and kept statistical reports. This position was eventually phased out due to a second restructure within the church in two years.

In 1976 and until her first retirement, Evangeline worked at Gulf Oil Corporation in the credit card division. The ensuing years in Evangeline’s work life finally came with benefits. While the world was moving toward automation, it did not replace the expertise and need for Evangeline’s writing. The Chevron/Gulf merger signaled a departure from creativity to that of strategic realignment, all of which Evangeline integrated, moving with the times, toward computer literacy. Microsoft MS-DOS being part of her language.

Her retirement from Chevron came as a welcome relief. While planning to address a host of long neglected activities, she lasted two weeks at home, announcing “the walls are closing in.”

She thusly ended retirement and was employed at Coldwell Banker, Virginia Highland as a receptionist. She was spirited away from Coldwell Banker and hired by Argent Securities as their Office Manager. As chronicled by her employer, Phil Reames, she was loved and respected by all. He relayed that she created and controlled “the vault” for office supplies. The stockbrokers considered office supplies as their personal property, i.e.: school supplies for their children. Evangeline brought this behavior to a halt by establishing a purchase order system requiring her approval for every item. She organized a room (aka the vault) for all supplies under lock and key controlled by her. Every item (pencil, paper, ballpoint pen) had to be issued by her. Probably no more than five feet tall, requiring a 6’ 5,” 240-pound muscled stockbroker to justify the need for every item. When supplies were received, (often in heavy boxes for items as copying paper), the brokers would offer to help put the items in the vault. Evangeline refused their help stating, “if you don’t use it, you will lose it.” One thing for sure, no correspondence went out of the office with a typo or misspelled word. One person challenged the spelling in a letter she typed. She simply said, “I don’t misspell words.” She, of course, was right and never challenged again by anyone.

No job was above or below her. When they took a company public, she was a “runner,” a person who would take a purchase or sale form from a broker and “run” it to the trading room for execution. A woman in her seventies, (in high heels) running through the office to make sure clients received the best possible stock price. One medal winning track star in his teens was fired for not being able to be an effective runner. Whatever it took to make the company successful, Evangeline did it. One year, she received an award for her outstanding dedication which was never given to another person. Much more importantly, she was considered an integral member of our family.
Immaculately dressed, highly intelligent, organized, powerful lady!

After the business sold, Evangeline returned to Coldwell Banker until her retirement at 84 years old, as the listing coordinator roll and administrative assistant in charge of accounting for the office.
Her employer, Rusty Willis saw and utilized her prowess with all things involved with superior office management.

Evangeline, was a life-long member of the Greek Orthodox Church. She was on the Sunday School teacher’s staff beginning in 1961, at which time she started with a Beginner’s class of children, moving on to a class of Second Intermediates. She served as secretary to the Director of the Sunday School (Eclecte Alexander) and in 1964, set up a Summer Sunday School program, serving as co-director for the Junior and Intermediate Departments. Prior to becoming a Sunday School teacher, she was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church Choir in Memphis, Tennessee.

Her devotion during off hours was to parents’ groups of her daughters’ schools. She was a room mother, member of the P.T.A and chairperson, and on the board at Rock Springs Elementary School. She was also the hospitality chairperson and Cultural Arts chairperson at North Fulton High School. In 1972, Evangeline served on the board of directors for the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. She was featured with Jimmy Carter (then Governor of Georgia) signing the Charter for the orchestra.

Her perseverance with both daughters during their university years resulted in proud recognition with her daughter Maria’s graduation from law school. Daughter Patti, followed the path as a professional musician.

Evangeline’s thirst for knowledge continued throughout her lifetime. She loved reading biographies, Greek and Roman philosophers and psychology. Her collection of books is testament to advancing her education. Assimilation in a day’s time encompassed reading the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, her current book, watching the PBS NewsHour and staying tuned in to Bloomberg.

Following her husband John’s passing in 1992, Evangeline adopted a stray, dejected dog, Mimi. Mimi’s life thereafter ran like a swiss clock. Evangeline nurtured and disciplined her in ways formerly unknown to a dog. That she eagerly awaited her breakfast of oatmeal, (Evangeline swore by morning oatmeal) was briefed and clear about what furniture was off limits, bore resemblance to Evangeline’s upbringing of her own children. Evangeline often quipped that she did not have grandchildren, but grand dogs. All of whom benefited from her motherly love.

She baked Greek pastries, and was inventive in her recipes, always a delight to her family, friends and colleagues. She rarely was without a tray of baked goods, delivering them, taking them to work, or mailing them to expectant recipients. Her garden was her therapy. She was never without a rake, broom or clippers, beautifying whatever she put her hands to. The original “green” woman, still, at 91 years old, hanging her clothes on clothesline and expertly ironing them. At home, Evangeline entertained relatives and friends. Her table settings and exquisite linens were a sight to behold.

Her love of people and of travel gave her the gift of deep connections with other places and people, especially with her in-laws in Ipswich, UK and her friends in Chevy Chase. Her ever expanding world included visits to London, Vienna, France, Switzerland, Ireland and Montreal. She travelled to Greece, meeting relatives she formerly knew through correspondence.

Museums were familiar places prior to her visits, studying, documenting, taking notes before she travelled. She was captivated by performances at the Metropolitan Opera, attended recitals and performances during her travels. In Atlanta, Evangeline frequented the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet and Atlanta Opera.

Her husband John once commented that no one would build a monument to her because of her penchant to give so freely of herself. Therein lies conclusion of her time on this planet: Her monumental gift to society is rooted as a contributor to make the world a more civilized place.

We are eternally grateful for her caretaker Juanita Watkins. Evangeline’s last days were peaceful in her care. We also give gratitude to Ivia Cofresi, Anis Shaw, Sally Westmoreland, Sally Hammock, Deedee Boone, and Angie Bullman for being her faithful friends; Elaine Kramer, niece and traveling companion; with mention to her friends and clergy at St Martin In the Fields Episcopal Church for keeping her in their prayers; Ingrid Siegert, for playing organ at her funeral; Sammy Pappas, nephew, for his devotion, Georgia Ekonomou, for finding her caretaker, and her enduring friendships with her Philoptochos sisters. Her reunion with her sister Sophie and brother-in-law James on her 90th birthday was a highlight of her life. She will be missed, remembered and revered.


Flowers:
https://www.buckheadwrights.com/
(Will be directly sent to the church)
Otherwise:
https://www.asturner.com/
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 N. Decatur Road

Donations in memory of Evangeline Gouvas may be directed to:

Philoptochos Society
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation
2500 Clairmont Rd
Atlanta, GA 30329

St Photini Outreach Ministry
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation
2500 Clairmont Rd
Atlanta, GA 30329