Haverty also was a devout Catholic who was named a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Pius XI and helped found the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta.

He began his first job, as a clerk for local dry goods merchant John Ryan, when he was fourteen.

[3] He has been called the first "important collector of works of art" in Atlanta,[4] with an eye for American Impressionist and Realist paintings, including work by Childe Hassam, Maria Turner, Albert P. Ryder, Jonas Lie and Henry O. Tanner.

These events led to the creation of Atlanta's High Museum of Art.

[2]: viii Haverty is buried, along with other family members, in Atlanta's Westview Cemetery.