Helen "Honey Vee" Michael

Helen Michael (Honey Vee), age 66, caught a flight bound for heaven on Feb. 9, 2025.
Honey Vee is survived by husband, Paul Michael; daughters, Kayla McKervey (Nate) and Krysta McLaughlin (John); and son, Zack Michael (Amanda).  She also has four grandchildren, ages 7 months to 8 years old.
She had a Christian (Nazarene) heritage extending for generations. Her grandfather was instrumental in building the Suwanee Christian Campground and her father and brother were both Nazarene pastors. All three carry the name William L. Chambers. Honey Vee attended Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tenn., where she married Paul Michael, who also had a generational history with the Nazarene church.
More important than genealogy, Honey Vee had a deep faith in God and commitment to family. When she got married just the day before her twentieth birthday, she decided to drop out of college and begin working so she could support her new husband in his career goals. She worked and kept house while he went to school. She continued working and supporting his many business endeavors until they had their first child, Kayla. After that she was a full-time mom until her youngest two, Krysta and Zack, went to high school.
She was the best wife, mom, and "Bee" that we could have ever asked for or imagined. Truly the most selfless person we've ever known. She would regularly set aside her own preference in favor of whatever her family wanted. She was the only babysitter her grandkids had ever known and once was brought to tears at the suggestion that someone else could be hired. She was available on call at any hour, no notice, for whatever her babies needed. And the honest truth is that she was glad to do it. She lived for her kids and grandkids. Over the years she canceled her own plans, sat activities out, took the small slice of pie - she sacrificed everything to ensure her family had the best.
People were drawn to her. She had the most genuine love and warmth for everyone. In her days running a coffee shop in Tallahassee she had a whole community of people who adored her. Customers, neighbors, politicians, friends. She became known as "coffee momma" to her employees, who were mostly made up of college students living far from home. She stepped in as a second mother to them and loved to spoil them with baked ziti, eclair cake, and other treats. She was a beloved staple of the little coffee shop on the corner.
In addition to people, she took care of all the animals and plants. Abandoned dogs and cats somehow found their way to her house – it must call to them somehow – but over the years an unusual number of neglected animals found her and were taken in. She always kept the bird feeders full and delighted in watching them every morning. When she was given a squirrel-proof birdfeeder as a gift she began spreading birdseed on the ground below it just so the squirrels would not be left out. Her husband knew not to hunt within a respectable distance from the house, because that was her animals' sanctuary. She loved her vegetable garden and her daylilies, and especially the fields of wildflowers Paul planted every spring.
She was humble and quiet; never wanted to draw attention to herself. That is probably one reason she kept her diagnosis private – she didn't want anyone's sympathy and honestly couldn't stand the thought of letting anyone down. While battling cancer she often repeated the pain would be worthwhile if it somehow served to bring her family closer to God and to one another.
She was the keeper of all the things. All the funny stories and a house full of memories from multiple generations. Nothing was ever lost until she couldn't find it. Her grown children have been known to call from their own homes to see if she knew where they'd left something. She usually did! We are all lost without her.
We're painfully aware of how lucky we've been to have her all these years, as well as the gaping void that she leaves behind. Her legacy is unconditional love, enduring patience, and a selfless commitment to others. We will spend the rest of our days trying to live up to her example.
All who loved her are welcome to join in a celebration of her life this weekend. We will gather at the family property for a time of memories and lawn games, Saturday, Feb. 22, at 3 p.m. at 1849 Watermill Rd. in Monticello.