‘Fly high my sweet friend.’ Gray man dies from cancer days after birth of daughter
Travis Greene gave big hugs and had a contagious smile.
He liked to go fishing and ride motorcycles, but most importantly, he made everything fun, according to the outpouring of stories posted to Greene’s Facebook page after he passed away Aug. 11.
“To be able to know Travis was nothing short of a blessing. To be able to call him a friend was even sweeter. We are all so blessed to have lived this life with you, you made everything fun. Though my heart is so heavy, I’m rejoicing in your healing and peace. You will be so missed,” wrote Mary Peyton on Greene’s Facebook page.
His family held a private memorial service at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Gordon on Aug. 14.
“There will never be a more genuine or caring person than you. Travis, you are going to be so incredibly missed and I am so happy to have shared so many good memories with you. You are truly one of a kind. I will miss your smile, laugh and your jokes forever. Drinking a natty for you tonight. Until I see you again, I love you!” wrote Chloe Fowler on Greene’s Facebook page.
In 2017, he went to the doctor for severe migraines as he and his then-fiance, Mikayla, prepared for their wedding, according to a Telegraph article from February.
Greene, of Gray, was told he had a tumor on the right frontal lobe of his brain that was larger than an egg, and he would spend the next three years fighting for his life while also living it.
He was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, after having his third brain surgery in January 2019.
“I’m in God’s hands, and I’m put in this situation for a reason, and I know I’ve made a lot of people that haven’t said a prayer in a long time say a prayer,” Travis said in the February article.
The couple was married at The Medical Center, Navicent Health Jan. 18, 2017, and they later celebrated their marriage on their original wedding date, April 1.
After three years of doctor’s appointments and cancer treatments, the couple found out Mikayla, 26, was pregnant with their first child.
“She wants a piece of me no matter what,” Travis said in the February article. “We’re walking God’s trail. If we ain’t supposed to have a kid, then we won’t have a kid. If we’re supposed to have a kid, we’ll have a kid. We kind of lay everything in God’s hands.”
Mikayla gave birth to a baby girl, Avery, just a few days before Travis passed away.
Living life to the fullest
Travis spent the last three years of his life traveling around the United States plus a trip outside of the U.S.
He and Mikayla traveled to New Orleans after New Year’s Day, hiked in Yosemite National Park, took a tour of Alcatraz, went on a cruise to Cozumel and Cayman Islands and visited the casinos in Las Vegas.
Travis has gone on several motorcycle trips. In the fall of 2019, Travis road the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive and traveled through seven states.
In the summer of 2019, Mikayla and Travis traveled to Panama City Beach with Travis’ family as well.
The memories
Several friends and family members of Travis and Mikayla posted to Travis’ Facebook page after he passed away.
Travis’ friend Adam Riley reminisced about the first time he stayed over at Travis’ house when Travis was about 3-4 years old.
“Sometimes life throws you curveballs that are never easy and this sure is a tough one to swallow,” Riley wrote.
Hunter Bass wrote about Travis’ fishing skills saying he would beat just about anyone who went fishing with him.
“I’m very thankful to have had a friendship with Trav and going to miss just being able to call him when I seen him around town, when I had a empty seat in the boat, or to go duck hunting. Love You Buddy!” Bass wrote.
Kaley Payne Jacobs wrote a final goodbye to Travis saying he was a joy to be around and he will truly be missed.
“Fly high my sweet friend,” she wrote.
This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM.