Mr. John Matthew Vansant Jr.

John Matthew Vansant, Jr., (known to his family and old friends as “Buster”), died on March 10, 2019. He was born at Phoebe Putney Hospital on May 27, 1941. His Funeral and Celebration of Life will be held in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, Albany, Georgia on Friday, March 15 at 2:00 PM, with the Rev. Thad Haygood officiating. Visitation will be held in Ford Hall from 1:00 PM until time for the service. Interment will follow the service at Crown Hill Cemetery next to his Mother and Father, Jonnie Wilson Vansant and John Matthew (Matt) Vansant, Sr. John dearly loved First Methodist Church. He was baptized there on May 29, 1949, and he enjoyed teaching Sunday School in the George & Virginia Littleton Class and the Monk Thompson Class. He also taught many sessions of the Disciple Bible Studies and loved reading and studying commentaries, articles and especially the Bible in preparation. John attended Albany Public Schools and graduated from The Baylor Preparatory School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on May 31, 1959. He graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962 and received his law degree in December 1964. He was admitted to the Georgia Bar in June of 1964. After graduation from Law School, U. S. Senator Herman E. Talmadge appointed John as his Legislative Assistant in Washington, D. C., where he served for two years before leaving in September, 1966, to join the law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton, also in Washington, D.C. Returning to Albany in 1969, John opened his law practice at 127 Court Alley and became very involved in civic and community affairs. After retiring in 2018 from his long partnership with Al Corriere in the law firm of Vansant and Corriere, LLC, John later became Of Counsel to Kimberly D. Lamb, P.C. . John served on the Board of Directors of the Albany YMCA., and every day around lunchtime you could find him running (later walking) around the track. He also served as a Board member of the Albany Sports Hall of Fame and invited all his family and friends to join him at the annual Sports Hall of Fame Banquet. John truly enjoyed the practice of law, and was named one of Georgia’s Top Rated lawyers in Family Law in 2012. He loved his family and appreciated all his many old friends and the new friends he made at the Y. and at Doublegate Country Club and later Stonebridge Country Club. John is survived by his children, John Matthew Vansant, III (Debbie), of Edmond, OK, Laura C. Vansant of Atlanta, Kimberly V. Falcon of Scott, LA, Connie Vansant of Metairie, LA, and step-children, Jason Hammock (Melissa) and Nikki Jernigan (Doug) of Albany. He is also survived by his grandchildren Melinda Patterson (Aaron) of Oklahoma City, Matt Vansant (Emily) of Dallas, Texas and Cliff Vansant of Edmond, OK. His sister, Mary Dale Vansant Kea (Don) and his niece Van Kea Henderson (Terry), both of Macon, GA. also survive him. Special appreciation is expressed to Sue Gay, John’s secretary for 30 years and to long time friends and helpers, Curtis Simmons and Freddie May Johnson. Those who desire to make a gift in memory of John may make a donation to Albany First United Methodist Church, 307 Flint Avenue, Albany, GA 31701, to the Albany YMCA, 1701 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA 31707, or to Albany Community Hospice, 320 Foundation Lane, Albany, GA 31707.

Mr. John Matthew Vansant Jr.

May 27, 1941 - March 10, 2019