William Hoyt Vance, Jr., age 85, of Tifton, Georgia, went home to be with the Lord peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, July 18, 2026. A funeral service will be held for Mr. Vance on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at First Methodist Church with Rev. Chip Grantham officiating. The family will receive friends and guests at First Methodist Church beginning from 1:00 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. Mr. Vance will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery following the service.
Keith Sokolsky, Brad Hartley, Ross McClellan, Bayly Thompson, Jody Vance and Kendall Vance will serve as pallbearers.
Born on September 23, 1940, in Ty Ty, Georgia, Hoyt was the son of William Hoyt Vance, Sr. and Wylantha Lucille (Moore) Vance. He was raised in Ty Ty and graduated from Tifton High School where he met his high school sweetheart, Rebecca Key. Their love story began as teenagers and blossomed into a beautiful marriage that spanned 64 years after they were married on March 10, 1962 - a legacy of faithfulness and devotion that became the foundation of their family.
After high school, Hoyt attended the University of Georgia and proudly served his country in the United States Army. He began his professional career with Household Finance Corporation before pursuing his entrepreneurial spirit and founding Credit Bureau Associates of Georgia. As a financial professional and businessman, Hoyt exemplified diligence, integrity, wise stewardship, and hard work throughout his life.
Yet, if you asked Hoyt what mattered most, he would not have spoken first of his accomplishments. He would have spoken of his family.
Hoyt was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who delighted in creating cherished family memories through vacations, holidays, and time spent together. He found great joy in providing for and caring for those he loved. His family knew him not only as a provider but as a gentle and faithful presence whose wisdom, encouragement, and humor brought laughter to every gathering.
He was known for his countless funny sayings and memorable cliches that somehow always seemed to contain just the right amount of wisdom and wit. He had a quick sense of humor, a sweet and gentle spirit, and a remarkable ability to make others laugh and feel loved. Those who knew him will forever remember his generosity, strong work ethic, thoughtful planning, and unwavering commitment to serving others.
More than anything, Hoyt loved the Lord Jesus Christ. His relationship with God was not merely something he professed - it was evident in the way he lived. He faithfully raised his family in church and modeled a sincere and steadfast Christian faith that has influenced generations. One of the greatest joys of his life was knowing that his children and grandchildren have come to know and love Jesus Christ.
Throughout his years of faithful service, Hoyt served as a Sunday school teacher, children’s ministry caregiver, Meals on Wheels volunteer, church finance committee member, and usher. He quietly and faithfully invested in the lives of others, storing up treasures in heaven through loving service and generous giving.
Several passages of Scripture were especially meaningful to Hoyt. Psalm 8 and Proverbs chapters 4 and 15 were bookmarked in his Bible, with Proverbs 15 beautifully reflecting his gentle and gracious character. He had also underlined John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends,” and Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” These verses were not merely highlighted in his Bible - they were faithfully lived out in his life.
Hoyt is survived by his beloved wife, Rebecca Key Vance; his daughters, Deidra Vance Sokolsky and her husband Keith, and Keylee Vance Hartley and her husband Brad; his granddaughters, Paren Jane McClellan and her husband Ross, Kamie Rebecca Thompson and her husband Bayly, and Payten Catherine Baerwald; his great-grandchildren, Lev, Finley, Henry, Oaklynn, and Analeia; his sister, Martha Sue (Vance) Gowen; his sister-in-law, Sheron (Brooks) Vance; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Hoyt Vance, Sr. and Wylantha Lucille Vance; his sisters, Mary Elizabeth (Vance) Sledge, Ernestine Lucile (Vance) Clay, Margaret Ann (Vance) Cannon, and Ruth (Vance) Morley; and his brothers, Joseph Wylie Vance, and James Louis “Jimmy” Vance.
Although his family grieves his absence, they rejoice knowing that Hoyt is now in the presence of the Savior he faithfully loved and served throughout his life. His legacy lives on in the generations he nurtured, the lives he touched through his kindness and service, and the enduring example of a life well lived for the glory of God.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to his caregivers, hospice staff, pastors, ministers, nurses, faithful friends, and all who visited, prayed for, and loved him so well in his final days.
Flowers and memorial gifts will be accepted by the family.