[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 20, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING POTA VALLAS

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                          HON. DAVID E. PRICE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 20, 2017

  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life and legacy of Pota Vurnakes Vallas, who died last week at the age 
of 109, surrounded by her family. A loving wife, mother and 
grandmother, pioneering businesswoman, and public-spirited citizen, 
Mrs. Vallas was one of the Fourth District's oldest residents and the 
matriarch of Raleigh's Greek community. Lisa and I extend our 
condolences to her family and her many friends and admirers in the 
Greek community and beyond.
  Mrs. Vallas was born in 1908 in the small village of Krissfa, Greece, 
the eldest of ten children. In 1924 her father, Gus Vurnakes, became 
the first Greek immigrant to settle in Raleigh and Pota soon followed. 
Gus opened a fruit and soda stop in downtown Raleigh and Pota assisted 
him, delivering ice cream and chocolates on a horse-drawn wagon to 
homes and businesses in Raleigh.
  In 1927, she married fellow immigrant George Vallas and began raising 
her family. She and George were stalwart members of the community, 
helping to establish a Greek Orthodox Church in downtown Raleigh. 
Eventually George and Pota donated the land upon which Holy Trinity 
Greek Orthodox Church stands today.
  George and Pota lost their home and business in the Great Depression. 
To provide for her young family, she applied to work for the Singer 
Sewing Company in 1931 and quickly emerged as a talented salesperson 
and manager. Her dream of owning her own business finally came to 
fruition in 1944 when she bought the distributorship of the National 
Sewing Machine Company and opened National Art Interiors, one of the 
first interior decorating businesses in Raleigh. Pota's store became a 
landmark for the finest furniture and fabric companies, furnishing many 
homes and businesses throughout the state. She ran the business with 
her daughters and other family members until retiring at the age of 94 
in 2002.
  In addition to managing a thriving company, Mrs. Vallas served on the 
Boards of First Citizens Bank and the North Carolina Community 
Foundation. She was a lifelong member of the Holy Trinity Greek 
Orthodox Church and a member of Philoptochos. She was honored with the 
Saint Michael's Award, the highest recognition for a layperson, for her 
years of dedicated service by the Greek Orthodox Diocese of America.
  Mrs. Vallas was one of my most memorable constituents. I often saw 
her at Raleigh's Greek Festival and treasure the memory of delivering a 
birthday letter from President Obama to her on one such occasion. She 
was quick with a smile and an encouraging word. She was a woman of 
great energy and faith, an indomitable spirit. She leaves behind a 
community that she loved and that loved her in return. We join with 
that community in mourning her passing and honoring her exemplary life.

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