James Thomas Papadakis

James T. Papadakis, 82, left this world into the hands of God on March 20, 2022. He was born August 16, 1939 and was a native Houstonian. Jimmy attended San Jacinto High School followed by Southern Methodist University where he obtained a business degree and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Jimmy was an active member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral and served as President of The Sons of Pericles for several years as a young man. He also later became an active member of the Young Presidents Organization for several years.

Upon graduating from college, Jimmy joined the family business of James Original Coney Island where he served as President until the mid-1990s. As the 100th anniversary of JCI approaches next year, Jimmy’s lasting legacy will be the company’s expansion from one downtown store to fourteen different locations, which made JCI’s original chili and Coney Dog staples across the greater Houston community. While Jimmy’s focus on the restaurants put smiles on the faces of millions of Houstonians over the years, the smiles that he relished most were those of his two children and four grandchildren. They were the light of his life and they will deeply miss their beloved father and Papou.

Jimmy is survived by his daughter Eleni (Lainie) Minnick and husband Adam Minnick, son Thomas Papadakis and wife Wendy Papadakis, as well as his four grandchildren, Alexis (Lexie) Papadakis, Colby Papadakis, Tyler Minnick and Wyatt Minnick. Jimmy is also survived by his brother Peter Papadakis and wife Jo Linda Papadakis as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Helen Papadakis, as well as his beloved sister, Tacia Servos.

Serving as pallbearers will be Colby Papadakis, Wyatt Minnick, Adam Minnick, Paul Voinis, Charles Mangum, Lenin Juarez, Nicholas Sabula and Tom Lykos Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Gus Redumis, Aristotelis Tripoli, Victor Reed, Thomas Luce III and Jack D. Knox.

Friends and family are cordially invited to a visitation with the family beginning at 3:30 p.m. on March 28, 2022 at Advantage Funeral Home located at 7010 Chetwood Drive, Houston, TX 77081, with the Trisagion and remembrance service starting at 4:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on March 29, 2022 at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd., Houston, TX 77006. A graveside service will follow at the Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery with a reception at Railway Heights Market located at 8200 Washington Avenue thereafter.

In lieu of flowers, Jimmy’s family requests that donations be made to The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral or the Parkinson’s Foundation.