Services to celebrate the life of Fred Joe Vann, Jr will be held Friday at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church with burial to follow in Henry Cemetery.Visitation will be Thursday evening from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the church and from 1:00 p.m. until service time.
Fred Joe Vann, Jr., a lifelong Corinth resident, passed away on February 3rd, 2025, after an extended illness. Joe was born on September 5th, 1946, to Louise Anderson Vann and Fred Joe Vann.
After attending Ole Miss, Joe served in the United States Navy for three years and then returned to Corinth to follow his father as President of Fred Vann & Company. He went on to serve as Chairman of The Southern Insurance Group, one of the largest insurance agencies in Mississippi. He was president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Northeast Mississippi and was on the Independent Insurance Agents of Mississippi board of directors. Joe was a natural and outstanding salesman who cared deeply for all he insured and prided himself on providing them with the best insurance coverage available. He was a Certified Insurance Counselor and earned numerous industry awards.
Joe’s life has been an example of continued service to his community. He was a founding board member of Commerce Bank, CARE Foundation, and The Commission on the Future of Alcorn County. He was a Scoutmaster and served on the Board of the Yocona Area Council. He was president of the Corinth Rotary and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. Joe served as president and board member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance. His appointment to the NASA Impact Committee was pivotal in bringing Lockheed Aerojet to Yellow Creek. These efforts led to new high schools in both Corinth and Tishomingo counties, computers in those schools, and an airport runway expansion, bringing many new residents to these communities. The Alliance honored him with the Spirit of Service and Volunteer of the Year awards. Joe also served on and/or was president of numerous other committees and boards, including The National Bank of Commerce, Fidelity Federal Savings and Loan, Horizon, the YMCA, Corinth Theater Arts, The United Way of Corinth and Alcorn County, the Alcorn County Cancer Society, and more. He was voted most outstanding timber producer of the year for a two-county area and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2008. He served the City of Corinth as an Alderman for four years. Joe was a great patriot and once contributed an American flag to all Corinth Elementary School students.
Perhaps, of all of Joe’s community efforts, closest to his heart was the Lighthouse Foundation, which was borne from the vision of Joe and Hoot Wilder and their small and faithful prayer group. His vision and devotion have helped develop a lasting, vital community resource that will impact many of our area’s youth for years to come. Recently, the Lighthouse Foundation added a new facility named the Joe Vann Purpose Center in his honor. Its purpose is to empower students to reach their full potential for their God-given purpose and His plan for their lives.
Joe was a member, Deacon, Elder, and Elder Emeritus of the First Presbyterian Church of Corinth. He and Cindy first envisioned and anonymously funded the idea of the First Pres family serving a Thanksgiving meal to the needy of Alcorn County. This has become a treasured church tradition and has grown to feed over one thousand. He was instrumental in starting a youth program and acquiring the property for the Youth House. He was a major supporter of the Presbyterian Pro-Life and Promise Keepers movements. He led or served on too many committees to list.
He was selected and honored to receive the Corinth Junior Auxiliary Citizen of the Year Award for 2020.
Joe loved bird hunting and spent much of his free time with his many bird dogs, hunting quail, dove, and duck or shooting skeet. He and Cindy loved traveling and spending time with friends and family, especially their grandchildren. Joe adored and was so proud of his children and grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Louise Anderson Vann, and his father, Fred Joe Vann. Joe is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Cindy Stacy Vann; his sister, Mary Vann Hedges (Van); his children, Paige Vann Berger (Keith), Gigi Fikes South, Brian Fikes (Melissa), Joel Vann (Lauren), Fred Joe Vann III (Genna), fourteen precious grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren on the way.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Lighthouse Foundation/The Joe Vann Purpose Center – PO Box 2121 Corinth, MS 38835 – LighthouseCorinth.org
Arrangements are under the care of Memorial Funeral Home.
