Michael Joseph Garvin

Michael Joseph Garvin, 79, passed away at Pine Pointe Hospice on Sunday, June 8, 2014. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday, June 11 at 11 a.m. Burial will be private at St. Joseph Cemetery. A Vigil Service with the Rosary will be held on Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The family will greet friends following the Vigil in the Social Hall. The family requests that donations be made to the Mike Garvin Scholarship Fund at Mt. de Sales Academy, 851 Orange Street, Macon, 31201.

Mike was born in Macon to the late Anastasia McKenna Garvin and John Calder Garvin. He was educated at St. Joseph School, Lanier High School, Mercer University and received his Masters from Georgia College in Milledgeville. Mike was in the Army and served during the Korean War.

Mike’s coaching career has spanned five decades, coaching with Bibb County Schools, Willingham High School and various recreation programs, winning a Pony League State Championship in 1957, 1958 and 1961. He was recognized numerous times as State, All Middle Georgia, and Region Coach of the Year. During his career, he won three state championships in football, one state championship in track and numerous region championships in football, basketball, track, wrestling and golf.

Mike is retired from Mt de Sales Academy where he was a teacher, coach and athletic director from 1967 to 1994. His 1973 football team was voted one of the Top 10 Best All Middle Georgia Football Teams. In 1999, Mount de Sales honored Mike by naming their Football Stadium the Mike Garvin Stadium. His high school coaching record is 172 wins, 71 losses and 5 ties. He is also a member of the Macon Sports Hall of Fame and the Mt. de Sales Sports Hall of Fame.

At Mt. de Sales, Mike was Star Teacher of the Year four times, was a recipient of the St. Francis De Sales Award in 2009, and was named an honorary alumnus by the MDS Alumni Association. Mike started Vine Ingle Tee League and was a Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph Church.

Survivors include his loving wife of 49 years, Carolyn; sons, Michael J. Garvin, II and wife, Bettye Ackerman of Virginia; Rob (Susanne) Garvin of Macon and Matt (Amy) Garvin of Macon; 6 grandchildren; brothers, McKenna Garvin of Macon, Minter Garvin of Folkston; sisters, Rita Thigpen of Asheville, NC, Mary Alice Bruce of Macon, Patricia Malkoff of Enterprise, AL, Pauline O’Mahony of Macon and Louise Peyton of Perry, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visit snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry St. has charge of arrangements.