The Petersfield resident was born on April 18, 1949, in Cyprus, and moved to South Africa when he was 16 years old.
When he arrived in South Africa, he couldn’t speak English but managed to learn the language and spoke it fluently.
His son Basil Panayi (40) says his father could also speak Afrikaans and Zulu fluently.
George later married Dawn Panayi (60), also from Cyprus, who joined him in South Africa where they raised their three children, Basil (40), Mary (37) and Christopher (24).
George started off working for a company and later owned a café and then moved into the furniture businesses.
“Racial, cultural and religious barriers were no issue for George and he was a friend to all,” says Basil.
He was known by all as a friendly, kind and caring man and was a father figure to many.
George was laid to rest on Tuesday, September 1, and a memorial service was held in Cyprus on the same day.
He will be sorely missed by his mother Evristeni Christofi (83) who still resides in Cyprus, his wife Dawn, his three children Basil, Mary de Bruyn and Christopher, his children-in-law, Bazil de Bruyn (39) and Memory Panayi (35), his grandson Thrain Panayi (two months old), family and friends.
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