The Falling Asleep of Sophia Fragakis

 

Sophia Toompas Fragakis

It is with great sadness, but with hope in the Resurrection, that we announce the falling asleep of our sister in the Lord, Sophia Fragakis. May her memorial be eternal!

Sophia Toompas Fragakis was born December 5, 1949 in Greensboro to the late James Arthur Toompas and Dorothy Morris. She spent her childhood in Greensboro, graduating from Grimsley High School in 1968. Sophia spent several years working for North Carolina National Bank in Charlotte. She would go on to work for American Wholesale Beverage in its early years. Her most important job and the one she would devote her life to was still waiting on the horizon.

 

At age 12 Sophia attended the Evrytanian Convention Dance in Winston Salem. There, she met a boy a couple years older than her whom she enjoyed talking to—his name was John Fragakis. Their paths crossed sparingly over the next decade, but neither had forgotten that first encounter. After a quick courtship, Sophia and John married in 1975. Their marriage proved to be a loving and respectful partnership that would last the next 50 years. 

 

Sophia gave birth to two daughters, Natalie and Anna. She loved her girls with every fiber of her being. Motherhood was her highest calling and greatest skill. She experienced so much joy in caring for her daughters, supporting their journey through childhood and guiding them into adulthood. That joy only multiplied over the years as she and John welcomed five grandchildren into their lives. While all yiayias are precious, the Yiayia to these five grand babies was unbridled love in human form. She cherished her family and devoted all of her energy to their well-being. 

 

Sophia was a member of Philoptochos and taught Sunday School. She also served on the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Foundation Board. It is in the memories Sophia takes with her and those she now leaves in the care of others that her spirit remains, her kindness continues to comfort and her love endures.

 

Like all living things, Sophia departed this world too soon. But she made the most of her time here. She had the chance to know, love and inspire her family and friends. Sophia had an immense heart and showed a selfless compassion for those around her. She made her mark on the hearts of others in countless ways. It was simply her nature, an intrinsic goodness, generous and sincere, distilled at her core. Sophia dedicated her life caring for those around her. That was her definition of happiness and she considered it life’s greatest blessing. 

 

Sophia was loved and admired by many cousins and friends whom she cared for deeply. Her presence will be dearly missed by all those lucky enough to have shared in her journey. Sophia was preceded in death by her husband John, her parents-in-law George and Mary Fragakis, and her sister-in-law June Toompas. She is survived by her daughters Natalie Spinosa and Anna Windham, their husbands Chris and Bryan, her grandchildren John, Ellie, Julia, Rhodes and McLain, her brothers Arthur and Jimmie and his wife Kim, her sister-in-law Eve Pappas and her husband Pete, and her brother-in-law William Fragakis and his wife Lisa Huber.

 

The family would like to thank Dr. Gonsalves and Dr. Orloff at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Dr. Kistner, Dr. Hart and Dr. Triozzi at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, and the staff at Trellis Supportive Care.

 

Sophia fell asleep in the Lord on June 15, 2026. Visitation will commence at 10:30 AM followed by a Trisagion and Funeral at 12PM at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on Wednesday June 17, 2026. The service will be officiated by Father Minas Tsambounieris, Father Nicolaos Spirakis and Father Costa Shepherd. Following the service, Interment will be at Forsyth Memorial Park, and then proceeding to Fratellis for a traditional meal. Memorial donations may be made to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Foundation, 435 Keating Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27104 or Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.