Constance Lord

Constance Anninos “Connie” Lord passed away peacefully at her home on February 8, 2022, three months short of her 100th birthday.

Connie was born in Piraeus, Greece, on May 18, 1922, to her parents, Dennis and Helen Anninos. She was the oldest of three children including her brothers Augustus and Nicholas (with whom she shared the May 18th birthday).

The family emigrated from Greece to Norfolk, VA, in 1938 where Connie went on to finish high school, learning English along the way. Connie, who was most likely the first Greek-American girl in Norfolk, Virginia, to go to college, completed a degree in Classical Greek Studies at William and Mary in 1945.

In 1946, at Bryn Mawr, she completed her Master of Arts degrees in Greek and Archaeology. After working at the Greek Consulate in New York City, Connie went back to Athens, Greece, with the Marshall Plan (during the Greek Civil War), where she met John Gillette Lord.  By 1949, the Marshall Plan took John and Connie to Turkey where they were married in 1951.

Over the years and through travels and adventures, Connie worked as an executive for major firms such as Litton and Universal Oil Products, as well as for Old Dominion University, Meharry College and the University of Arkansas. But, through wars and coup d’etat’s, life in different states and different countries, her passion and dedication were always for her children, and ultimately for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She would always give what she could to them, at the sacrifice of her own needs and wants.  Birthdays, name days, holidays and every day in between were lived for her family. They were her world, and she took great pride in each of them.

Connie loved music of all kinds.  She loved fashion, and even in her later years remained stylish and up to date with the latest trends. She stressed the value of education as the key to knowledge and enlightenment for all, and as a way for the world to overcome bias and racism. She was articulate, learned and wise, but most importantly she always had a smile on her face, and a greeting and kind word for everyone.

Connie is survived by her two children, Dennis and Denah, Dennis’ wife Laticia, and Connie’s six grandchildren and her eight great grandchildren, including Shannon Logan, her husband Michael and children Jack and Emma; Michael Shabal and wife Kim; Lindsey White, her husband Morgan and their children Clark and Alice; Elisa Smith and Dustin Odom and their children Avri, Addison, Oakley and Brentley; Niko Lord and his husband Matthew, and Jett Lord.

Connie loved attending services at Hillsboro Presbyterian Church, where she found great joy and peace. A memorial service will be held at that Church, located at 5820 Hillsboro Pike in Nashville, on March 20, 2022, at 2:00 PM. A celebration of her life will be held immediately following the memorial service at the church.

In her passing, OR if she were here, she would wish a rich and joyful life to you all. As Niko said, “I think we all know that wherever she is now is without a doubt a perfect reflection of the love and care she gave all of us through her life.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The College of William and Mary, as follows:

By credit or debit card, to this link:  https://give.wm.edu

By check, to:

Office of University Advancement
Gift Administration
P.O. Box 1693
Williamsburg, VA 23187-1693

Please note that the gift is in memory of Connie Lord in the memo section of the check or on the credit card form.