Michael Edwin Purvis, known to just about everyone in Milledgeville as Mike, left this world the morning of May 6th, 2026, the same way he lived in it: on his own terms, having squeezed every bit of l

Michael Edwin Purvis, known to just about everyone in Milledgeville as Mike, left this world the morning of May 6th, 2026, the same way he lived in it: on his own terms, having squeezed every bit of life out of every day he was given. Born January 8th, 1963 in Milledgeville, Georgia, Mike was the kind of man who could walk into any room and leave it louder, warmer, and better than he found it. You could not take him to Walmart without stopping half a dozen times. He knew everybody, and everybody knew him. Mike spent his life working hard and working often electrician, mechanic, construction, auto parts, factory floor, shift supervisor whatever the season called for, he showed up. But if you asked Mike what he was, the answer was simpler than any job title. He was a racer. He was a hunter. He was a man who loved his people fiercely and his Lord quietly. His 1971 Chevy Nova was as much a part of him as his own heartbeat. He got her in 1987 and never let go through one memorable stretch finished in pepto bismol pink with lime green racing stripes, and eventually settling into primer, the honest look of a car with real work left to do. That Nova saw drag strips and open roads and decades of a man doing exactly what he loved. Mike loved hunting, and just last year he finally got his first taxidermy mount an 8-point buck he'd taken himself. He had waited a long time for that one. He liked that. His grandchildren, McKenzie and Zachary, were among his greatest joys. He followed every jiu jitsu match, football game, robotics competition, basketball game, soccer game, and every trip they went on. He leaned in for every story they had to tell and made sure they knew he was paying attention. He was so proud of them it just came off of him naturally. Mike knew and loved Jesus, and found fellowship at Freedom Church. In his final chapter, COPD made the simple act of breathing a daily fight. He faced it the way he faced everything without much complaint, without giving up any more ground than he absolutely had to. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Purvis; his father, Marvin Purvis; his sister, Sue Purvis; and his brother, Johnny Peterman. He is survived by his son, Glenn Purvis; daughter-in-law, Stephanie Purvis; grandchildren, McKenzie and Zachary Purvis; niece, Michelle Roberson; grandnephew, JR; and brothers, Ronny and Frank Peterman. We will miss you, Daddy. We love that you were ours for a little bit.