James Bill Koikos died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on November 16, 2019. He is survived by his sister, Helen Koikos Cocoris (Dr. John G. Cocoris); his brother, Nicholas W. Koikos; his nieces Stacey Cocoris Craig (the late Hugh B. Craig, Connie, and Joe), Connie Cocoris Chwe (Dr. Myron S. Chwe, John Andrew, and Helen), and Joanna Cocoris Hufham (Dr. David C. Hufham, Anna, James, and Henry); his cousin Andreas Anastassakis (Katie, Nicoleta, and Philip); cousins Jimmy, George, and Pete Koikos in Tallahassee Florida; and numerous cousins in the Koikos, Anastassakis, and Koutroulakis families. James Bill Koikos was born on April 21, 1938 in Birmingham, Alabama, to Bill and Anastasia Koikos. Jimmy had an idyllic childhood growing up on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer and working after school as a busboy at the Bright Star Cafe. He attended Arlington School and Bessemer High School, graduating in 1957. After attending the University of Alabama, Jimmy started working at the Bright Star on January 1, 1960. Aside from his time serving in the United States Coast Guard in the early 1960s, he worked at the Bright Star for the rest of his life. Jimmy's ambition and natural gregariousness as manager and host led the Bright Star to higher levels of cuisine, service, and recognition from the 1970s onward. The addition of Jimmy's niece Stacey Craig and cousin Andreas Anastassakis to the already-exceptional Bright Star staff was a great personal and professional blessing to Jimmy. Today the Bright Star's reputation for excellence--including an "America's Classic" award in 2010 from the James Beard Foundation in New York--is largely due to Jimmy Koikos's vision and tenacity. Jimmy was best known and loved for his infectious sense of humor, his generosity to family and friends, and the keen interest he showed in everyone he met. He took great pride in having friends from all walks of life, including coaches, athletes, politicians, businessmen, and ministers. Jimmy was honored and humbled to be a member of the A-Club, the Red Elephant Club, and the Board of Directors of the First Financial Bank in Bessemer. On the rare occasions that he left the Bright Star, Jimmy enjoyed attending Alabama football games, visiting Panama City Beach, and seeing his cousins in Tallahassee, Florida. To have known Jimmy is to understand how much his love and humor will be missed every day, and how enormously his presence will be felt at the restaurant he loved, in the hometown that he loved. May his memory be eternal. Jimmy Koikos's family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the many friends whose visits, prayers, and cards provided sustaining strength to Jimmy during his illness. Special thanks to: The Bright Star staff Father Gregory Edwards Father Paul Costopoulos Dr. Marty Heslin Dr. Robert Conry Dr. Jennifer De Los Santos Dr. Reid Christopher Visitation will be Tuesday, November 19th from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., with Trisagion service at 7:00, at Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Birmingham. Funeral will be Wednesday, November 20th at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral. A memorial meal will be served in the Cathedral Banquet Hall following a graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 307 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL. 35233; The Robert E. Reed Oncology Center in Birmingham, Alabama.∼Co-founder of the famous Bright Star Restaurant in Bessemer, Alabama, Jimmy Koikos passed after a 7-month battle with cancer at the age of 81. An ardent supporter of the University of Alabama, Mr. Koikos welcomed celebrates and ordinary folk alike at his restaurant for nearly 60 years, making everyone feel special. He was truly a Bright Star and will be missed by all.
James Bill Koikos died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on November 16, 2019. He is survived by his sister, Helen Koikos Cocoris (Dr. John G. Cocoris); his brother, Nicholas W. Koikos; his nieces Stacey Cocoris Craig (the late Hugh B. Craig, Connie, and Joe), Connie Cocoris Chwe (Dr. Myron S. Chwe, John Andrew, and Helen), and Joanna Cocoris Hufham (Dr. David C. Hufham, Anna, James, and Henry); his cousin Andreas Anastassakis (Katie, Nicoleta, and Philip); cousins Jimmy, George, and Pete Koikos in Tallahassee Florida; and numerous cousins in the Koikos, Anastassakis, and Koutroulakis families. James Bill Koikos was born on April 21, 1938 in Birmingham, Alabama, to Bill and Anastasia Koikos. Jimmy had an idyllic childhood growing up on Dartmouth Avenue in Bessemer and working after school as a busboy at the Bright Star Cafe. He attended Arlington School and Bessemer High School, graduating in 1957. After attending the University of Alabama, Jimmy started working at the Bright Star on January 1, 1960. Aside from his time serving in the United States Coast Guard in the early 1960s, he worked at the Bright Star for the rest of his life. Jimmy's ambition and natural gregariousness as manager and host led the Bright Star to higher levels of cuisine, service, and recognition from the 1970s onward. The addition of Jimmy's niece Stacey Craig and cousin Andreas Anastassakis to the already-exceptional Bright Star staff was a great personal and professional blessing to Jimmy. Today the Bright Star's reputation for excellence--including an "America's Classic" award in 2010 from the James Beard Foundation in New York--is largely due to Jimmy Koikos's vision and tenacity. Jimmy was best known and loved for his infectious sense of humor, his generosity to family and friends, and the keen interest he showed in everyone he met. He took great pride in having friends from all walks of life, including coaches, athletes, politicians, businessmen, and ministers. Jimmy was honored and humbled to be a member of the A-Club, the Red Elephant Club, and the Board of Directors of the First Financial Bank in Bessemer. On the rare occasions that he left the Bright Star, Jimmy enjoyed attending Alabama football games, visiting Panama City Beach, and seeing his cousins in Tallahassee, Florida. To have known Jimmy is to understand how much his love and humor will be missed every day, and how enormously his presence will be felt at the restaurant he loved, in the hometown that he loved. May his memory be eternal. Jimmy Koikos's family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the many friends whose visits, prayers, and cards provided sustaining strength to Jimmy during his illness. Special thanks to: The Bright Star staff Father Gregory Edwards Father Paul Costopoulos Dr. Marty Heslin Dr. Robert Conry Dr. Jennifer De Los Santos Dr. Reid Christopher Visitation will be Tuesday, November 19th from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., with Trisagion service at 7:00, at Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Birmingham. Funeral will be Wednesday, November 20th at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral. A memorial meal will be served in the Cathedral Banquet Hall following a graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 307 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL. 35233; The Robert E. Reed Oncology Center in Birmingham, Alabama.∼Co-founder of the famous Bright Star Restaurant in Bessemer, Alabama, Jimmy Koikos passed after a 7-month battle with cancer at the age of 81. An ardent supporter of the University of Alabama, Mr. Koikos welcomed celebrates and ordinary folk alike at his restaurant for nearly 60 years, making everyone feel special. He was truly a Bright Star and will be missed by all.
