Dr. Barnie Lafayette Vanzant, Jr., 84, of Lake City, passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, October 6, 2024 at Haven Hospice – Suwannee Valley Care Center in Lake City after an extended illness. He was born in Jacksonville, FL on December 6, 1939 to the late Barnie Lafayette Vanzant, Sr. and Rubye Meeks Vanzant. After earning his doctor of medicine from Emory University in 1965, Dr. Vanzant was a flight surgeon in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Following his service to our country, he began a long career as a family practice physician in Lake City, retiring in 2006. He was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Lake City where he served as a deacon for many years. In his spare time, he enjoyed tending his cattle on his farm in White Springs, FL and watching football, especially the FSU Seminoles. He is preceded in death by his brother, William Frank Vanzant.

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Blanche Joiner Vanzant of Lake City; sons, Chris William Vanzant (Martha) of Jacksonville, FL and Mark Allen Vanzant (Lisa) of Kalispell, MT; his daughter, Sarah Vanzant Smart of Tampa, FL; and four grandchildren, Leigh Anne Vanzant of Jacksonville. FL, Isabella Vanzant, Luke Vanzant and Audrey Vanzant all of Kalispell, MT.

Visitation will be held Friday, October 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lake City. Following the visitation, a celebration of life service will be conducted at the church at 4:00 p.m. with Rev. Carl Chauncey, officiating. A private family interment will take place the following day in Zeta Cemetery in Tennille, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to First Baptist Church of Lake City in memory of Dr. Vanzant.