Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

March 27, 2026

CHARLOTTE – In loving memory of Maria Lamprinakos Collias, who passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, March 27, 2026, at the age of 87.

Maria was a wonderful woman, friend, confidante, guide, treasured Yiayia, godmother, adored family matriarch, extraordinary teacher to generations of lucky students, generous soul, beloved wife of 58 years to her late husband, Nick Collias, and devoted mother to Dean Collias, M.D. (Gina), and to John Collias.  Her greatest legacy remains her large, vibrant family, and her memory will be forever cherished by her three grandchildren: identical twin granddaughters, Celia Maria Collias Asbury (Hayden) and Sabrina Elaine Collias, and her grandson, Ethan Dean Collias.

Born on February 21, 1939, in Asheville, North Carolina, Maria was the daughter of the late Peter (Polivios) George Lamprinakos and Sofia Boukides Lamprinakos, who together with Maria’s late brother, George Pete Lamprinakos, were founding members of Asheville’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. 

Maria graduated from St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines Academy in Asheville, which later merged with Carolina Day School, where her grandson, Ethan, would also graduate.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in history, with a minor in English, from Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina, now UNC Greensboro, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society, and Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society.

Like her late grandfather and uncle, Maria became a lifelong educator.  She was an incredible teacher who deeply cared for her students. Over the course of her career, she taught history at Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh and later at four Charlotte schools: South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte Country Day School, Providence Day School, and UNC Charlotte. She then earned her master’s degree in guidance counseling and went on to serve students at Eastway Middle School and Kennedy Middle School in Charlotte.

Maria firmly believed that travel was an essential part of education, often quoting Mark Twain: “One must travel, to learn.”  Her first trip to Greece was by ship in 1952 with her parents and brother.  She returned to Greece and Europe many times throughout her life to be with extended family, traveling with her husband, sons, grandchildren, and friends.  Her spirit was bright, adventurous, and wise.

Deeply devoted to God, the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Greek Orthodox community, Maria lived her faith through both service and leadership. She was the first woman elected to the parish council of Holy Trinity in Charlotte and played a key role in acquiring land for the church’s expansion.  By breaking that barrier, she inspired a new generation of Greek women to seek leadership roles despite the church’s traditional hierarchy.  She also shared her Greek heritage, language, and values with her family, her classes, and her community at large.  Beyond the church, Maria was a feminist, a voting precinct chair, and a committed advocate for civil rights and women’s rights.

In 1981, Maria and her beloved husband Nick opened the Charlotte landmark restaurant Dikadee’s Front Porch on East Independence Boulevard.  Named after the dachshund they received as newlyweds from Nick’s brother, George, the restaurant became a close-knit family of staff, customers, and dear friends.  After a full day of teaching, Maria joyfully headed to her second job as co-manager and hostess.  Her warm and genuine welcome to customers made them feel like she had been waiting for them to arrive all night.  She was also the creative force behind the restaurant’s front porch theme, decorating it with historic photographs of old Charlotte porches.

In her 55 years of living in the same Charlotte home, Maria relished time with neighborhood friends, long walks along the winding wooded street, and, in her senior years, visits with the neighborhood children, often offering to be the designated person to greet the afternoon school bus and walk her precious tiny neighbors home from school.  Her home was filled with children, a parade of Greek epicurean cuisine, the scent of oatmeal chocolate chip pecan (you must have the pecan) cookies, the happy bark of the family dogs and the gentle purr of the cats, shelves of books, and endless sticky notes with quotes of love and encouragement.

Her family and friends were the foundation on which she built her life.  She expressed a deep love for family and was a dedicated caretaker to her late mother Sofia.  Many of her students became lifelong friends.  She often remarked that she learned more from her students than they ever learned from her.

An avid reader, Maria may have been one of the oldest fans of the historical fiction series, Outlander, relating to the story’s homestead in the Appalachian Mountains which appealed to her mountain heritage and her love of history.

Maria’s enthusiastic optimism, radiant graciousness, unceasing encouragement, and often-expressed deep affection are the ways in which we can all live and lean into her spirit every day.

On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, from 4:30-7:30 PM, a Celebration of Life gathering for Maria will be held at Rooster’s Ballantyne, 15110 Bowl St, #101, Charlotte, NC.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 5108 Kuykendall Rd, Charlotte, NC.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery.  The service will be livestreamed through the church website at: https://www.stnektarios.org/new_webcast for those unable to attend in person.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to VIA Health Partners, 7845 Little Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28226 (https://www.viagiving.org/donating)—the non-profit hospice that cared for Maria at the end of her life—or a charity of your choice.

The family would like to extend their great appreciation and sincere thanks to Dr. Michael Friedland, Dr. Michelle Janania Martinez, and Dr. Rene McLeod; Father Gregory Georgiou and Father Andreas Houpos; and the caring VIA Health Partners Hospice Team: Keri Waddington, RN, Colleen Ferry, Chaplain McCay Fletcher, and Sharon Alexander who all touched Maria’s heart.

The family would also like express their gratitude to Maria’s pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.  

Pallbearers: Hayden Asbury, Robert Brendle, Malcolm Campbell, Ethan Collias, George Douglas, Allison Kratt, & Luke Fisher.

Honorary pallbearers: Cora Pappas; Angela Miotto; Helen Theos; Paul Dragoumis; Ann Murtlow; Drew Dragoumis; Patricia Economides; Chad & Connie Howard; Ed & Sophia Davis; Angie Lamprinakos; Juanita Ervine; Janet Brooks; Jane Brooks Jackson; Melodie Lamprinakos; George & Rachel Lamprinakos; James Caras; Nicholas & Carolyn Caras; Todd, Elizabeth, Luke, & Zoe Fisher; George, Tula, Stephanie, Christopher, Helen, Bella, Sophia, & Matthew Collias; Randy & Kathy Allen; Lauren Campbell; Murray & Jerusha Fadial; Chris & Mitzi Economides; Nicholas & Linda Theos; Greg, Janine, Emory, McConnell, & Beau Chambers; Jim & Jan Farley; Chase & Ashley Kerley; Bob & Susanna Christenbery; Steve & Regan Riggs & family; Elaine McKeithen, Thomas & Sonja Hertlein; Barry, Annette, Elizabeth, & Mikey Feld; Koko, Maryann, Ariadne, Zack, & Matt Zitsos; Chris, Mary, Charlie, & Will Calder; Peter & Mary Collias; Andrea Defterios; Dimitra Collias; Charlie, Shannon, & Heidi Emmanuel; Ernie & Blair Mason; Spero, Georgia, & Christina Nixon; Tasos Douglas, Dan & Vickie Wixon; Fr. Steve & Pres. Maria Dalber; Costa, Catherine, Nicolas & Daniel Andreau; Bobbie Campbell; McLean Campbell; Elliott Campbell; William Campbell; Fr. Gregory Georgiou; Fr. Andreas Houpos; Andy & Toula Boukidis; Perry & Maria Boukidis; Taki & Georgette Boukidis; Mickey, Linda, Kate, Alex, & Eli Aberman; Laura Baker; Mary Kay Baynard; Tonia & Kevin Cox; Walter Kearns; Wilma Hudgens; Tula Tsoulos Kourakos; Martha Woods; Bonnie Heim; Johnny Woods Jr; Maddie Deveikis; Linda Pelletier; Marlene Jacoby; Stephanie Wilder; Maya Lamprinakos; Olivia, Haley, & Colby Davis; Chris & Marian Le Clerc; Price & Anna Kerley; Isla, Ashten, & Slade Riggs; Gwen & Henrik Hertlein; Penny Nixon; Dena, Steve, Dean, & Katina Kondilis; Emily & Gus Karras; Theophani Nixon; Ted & Cynthia Kratt; Nathan & Sudie McLamb; Judy & Walker Layne; Danna Pentes; Dorne Pentes; John & Phyllis Mahoney; Kay McBryde; Mary Beth O’Briant; Peter, Kathy, & Kelly Brennan; Jennifer & John Mahoney; Nancy, Laura, & Rob Beasley; Cynthia Fisher Todd; Jeri & Myra McAlister; Jennifer & Gerard Loiseau; Teddy Karagias; Beth Knauff; Jackie Hunter; Kate Hunter; Jimmy & Barbara Copses; Peter & Mary Copses; Simon & Ashley Moye; Peter & Pamela Copsis; Eleni Douglas; Tasos & Tina Douglas; Anna Koufaliotis; Lula Andrews; Jimmy Georgio;  Dennis & Kabee Kokenes; Debbie Stathakis; Chris & Lisa Copsis; Joannie & Missy Davis; Mike & Stephanie Scolinos; George  & Helen Couchell; Faye Couchell; Chris Miller & Family; Bill & Tamara Griffin; Jim Kendall; Kim Kendall; Elizabeth Levergood George; Sandee Smith Kirchhoff; Sylvia Ashcraft; Mary Beth Huskey Clark; Brian Huskey; Jill Triggs Hernandez; Isabel Hamilton Owen; Tim Cooper; Michael & Anitha Leonard; Paul Goodson; Jeff & Emily Vaughn; Beth Corzine; David Ball; Mary Todd; Harold Lowry; Tommy & Millie Cox; Jim & Paulette Beatty; Libby Helms; Joey Conder; Robert Mitchener; Carlie Draper Jakub; Sandy Knox; Chip Knox; Mark Weir; Eric & Susan Lerner; Maria Hondros Nelson; Barbara Hondros; Dianne Leventis; Renee Collins; Gary Anderson; George & Leanne Anderson; Johnny & Mimi Anderson; Margaret Martin; Frances & Don Evans; Sheila & Lou Philippi; Catherine Jordan; Terri Martin; Kappy Griffith; Sabrina Fadial; Todd & Wanda Townsend; Anne Scott; Sis Kaplan; Leslie Schlernitzauer; Maria Marty; Dave Benson; John Hosmer; Marissa Sutker Clemmer; Woody Littlefield; Margaret Park; Benjy Park; Rex & Linda Welton; Delia McMullen; Rex Welton, Jr.; Martin Welton; Anna Welton; Molly Wilmer Barker; Ann McGregor; Donna Grimaldi Steakley; Toula Kleitches; Sam Kleitches; Tom & Angela Kleitches; Toni Robinson; Deanna Campbell; Anne Chaplin; Olivia & Chet Chaplin; Delle, Deede, & Don Denton, Craig & Ashley Hollingsworth; Pauline Blehi; Gail Chomakos; Evelyn Klund; Georgia Andrews; Steve & Nancy Sazs; Martha & Don Shafer; Kathy Walker; Bruce & Vicki Walker; Leslie Evers; Jane Morgan; Jason Levergood; Lee Jerdon; Jonathan Walkup; Judy Goldman; Tricia Grode Addicks; Laurie Smithwick; David Kaplan; Bessie Christophilakis; Linda Kaperonis; Paul Kaperonis; Todd Kaperonis; Christine Bonderer; Jim Leach; James Black; Matt Slotkin; Tracey Slotkin; Elaine Miller; Diane Scott; Merryman Cassels; Melissa Estes; Melinda McMeekin; Isabel Draper; Pauline Blehi; Louise Rogers; Happy Rogers; Marla Shapiro; Steve & Heidi Emmanuel; Bill Coughlin; Dede Matthews; Andrew & Elissa Bahanovich; Kenneth Poe; Gus & Emily Carros; Daryl & Leslie Asbury; Chip & Mary Asbury; Dustin & Hannah Eaton; Andy & Nicole Asbury; Chris Asbury; Larry McAdams; Katy Asbury; ALL of the MPHS Class of ‘55; ALL of St Genevieve’s Class of 1956.

May Her Memory Be Eternal.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606.  Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.