On March 14, 2019 Michael Paul Havrilla went to heaven after losing a long and courageous battle against cancer. In his last hours, he was surrounded by all of the family members that he loved so very much and passed away peacefully. He was 54 years old.
Michael was born on March 17, 1964 to M/Sgt. John Havrilla and Eva E. Havrilla . After the death of his father and then his mother, Michael, the youngest of 7 children, moved to Memphis Tennessee where he was raised by his older sister Elizabeth and her husband Jerry.
Michael was an outgoing and fun-loving man, with many interests. He was a great conversationalist and quickly made friends. Everyone who knew Michael loved and respected him.
Whether in or out of the workplace, Michael always made strong friendships that he maintained over his lifetime. Michael loved music of all kinds especially the oldies from the 1960’s and 1970’s. He loved to listen to his extensive collection of records and tapes especially the music of the Beatles and Jim Croce.
Mike also was very interested in astronomy and our nation’s space program and spent a lot of his leisure time reading magazines and periodicals specializing in these topics. Michael was a graduate of the University of Georgia and served as the Student Council President during his junior and senior year in Athens. He loved the Dawgs and promised that when he went to heaven, he would ask for help to deliver another national championship to the Georgia football program.
He also like to play golf with his friends and brothers. He was lots of fun in a foursome and loved to practical jokes on his friends and relatives. Mike loved not only his immediate family but also his many first and second cousins around the country.
In 2012, Michael organized an extended family reunion which was held in White Plains, New York and was attended by approximately 150 people many of whom had not seem each other for many years. That reunion helped restart many family relationships which continue today. Michael was a very hard worker even from his high school days where he earned money working at the local Cecil’s grocery chain.
After graduating UGA with a degree in finance, Michael worked for Shaw Industries as a credit analyst. He then moved on to a credit manager job with Georgia Pacific in Atlanta then moved over to sales based in Portland, Oregon and Dallas, TX. Sales was a natural fit for Mike given his engaging personality and became his life’s work.
He moved on to become a Regional Sales Manager for the Dole Company and then a National Sales Director for Marlite where he is still highly regarded today as a great sales and marketing leader and a good friend. Mike’s career continued upward as he served as the US Sales Manager for Gerflor, a French multi-national flooring company. He worked major accounts for Akron Ohio based Omnova until stricken with his illness.
Michael will be sorely missed by all of his many friends and relatives. He is survived by his partner in life Chris Havrilla, daughters Alexis and Sydney and siblings John L. Havrilla (Donna), Elizabeth Philips (Jerry), Edward J. Havrilla (Robin Allen), Nancy Bramlett (Dean), Patricia Bean, and Dolores Chapman and the many nieces and nephews who loved him and help comfort him until the very end. Michael’s passing will leave a large void in his family but the legacy he left will remain as a testament to the wonderful life he lived and the happiness he brought to all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to themmrf.org/get-involved/donate-to-the-mmrf/donate/. A Requiem Mass will be offered Monday March 18, 2019 at 11:00 am at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church. 939 James Burgess Rd.
, Suwanee, GA 30024, www. saintcolumba.net, with The Rev. Father Tripp Norris as Celebrant.
Interment will be held Saturday March 23rd at 11:00 AM at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Warner Robins, GA. Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory, 210 Ingram Ave. Cumming, GA 30040, is in charge of arrangements.
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