Andrew Groutas

So glad to be in America! Andrew Groutas immigrated from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. In Cyprus, having lost both parents at the age of 13, he was on his own. He did many odd jobs to support himself. When he was 23 years old, he borrowed money from an uncle, and, by way of Egypt, came to America on a freight ship. His two brothers, Michael and Jimmy, welcomed him to New York, “with his pockets hanging out.”

In New York, eager and energetic, he earned a license in hairdressing and became a citizen of the United States. While earning his license, he worked in Jimmy’s salon on Broadway. Shortly after, he opened a beauty salon on Amsterdam Ave. at 116th Street across from Columbia University and Saint Luke’s Hospital. With his ability and personality, he grew a large clientele of professors and doctors. He often said, “I earned my ‘higher education’ while working on the heads of professors and doctors.” On his rooftop, watching the July 4th fireworks, he met a southern girl, Billie Sue Wilbanks, from Winder, Georgia, who was pursuing a Doctorate in Education from Columbia University. A few years later, after visiting his family in Cyprus, while Billie Sue was an Education professor at Auburn University, Andrew decided he "could not live his life without her".

They were married in Winder, Georgia, on August 5, 1961. They bought a townhouse in Woodside, New York, and soon became the parents of two daughters, Susan (1962) and Melanie (1964). In 1963, they made the decision to move to Atlanta, Georgia, and purchase a lot in DeKalb County. They built their dream house in Amberwood subdivision and moved there in 1965. Andrew secured jobs in Atlanta to acquaint himself with the Atlanta hairdressing market. He was given the chance of a lifetime when he was chosen from a select group of salon owners to open a shop at the new Greenbriar Mall, and so began the legacy of Andrew of New York beauty salons. His reputation grew, and, at the time of his retirement in the late 1980’s, he owned seven salons in major malls and hotels in Atlanta.

After his retirement, Andrew and Billie Sue enjoyed spending time with their family, Susan Pamela Groutas, Melanie Groutas Dotson and her husband, Tim Dotson, and grandchildren Andrew Russell Dotson, William Timothy Dotson, and Kathleen Elisabeth Dotson. They also enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, Europe, and South America. Andrew and Billie Sue recently celebrated 56 wonderful years together. Andrew lived 94 happy and fulfilling years, and will be missed by those who loved and admired him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity or organization of your choice.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, September 9, in the chapel of A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home, Decatur, GA. The family will receive friends immediately following services. A private interment will be held at Floral Hills Memory Gardens, Tucker, GA.

Feel free to leave the family your condolences via the guestbook provided.