Vance Sykes Land (Blue), 78, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family at his home.
Vance was born to William (Bill) Raines Land and Ruth Sykes Land on March 7, 1946 in Richmond County, North Carolina.
He graduated from Hamlet High School in 1964. He attended Wingate College and later served in the North Carolina National Guard.
He and his brother, William, learned the value of hard work from their parents at the Land Truck and Tractor Company where Vance worked for 18 years. He worked as the credit manager at Perry Brothers Tire Company for eight years. Vance loved working with the public and talking to people and he continued his career working for the family business at Rockingham Dragway through the 1980s until it was sold. In his later years, he owned and operated Triple L Campgrounds and Parking until his death.
Vance loved people, entertaining with friends, and living life to the fullest. While always being the life of the party, he quickly settled down when he met Day Land from Tabor City, who became the love of his life and wife for 49 years. As they say, opposites attract, this witty, Southern charmer from Hamlet and an elegant Southern belle went on to have their son, Bryan Raines Land, who they adore and are so proud of.
While Vance prized Bryan’s accomplishments, his greatest accomplishment by far was that of being "Papa" for 17 years. Just as with his own son, he made each of his grandchildren feel like the most important person in the world. Winston Raines Land (17) and Ava Kennedy Land (12), and Bentley (grand dog) (4) were the apple of his eye. He was Papa to so many more. Vance loved spending time with the grandkids, and he would take Winston’s friends, whom they called “the boys,” on Saturdays to eat breakfast at the Holiday, or Cracker Barrel to have “steak and eggs.” He loved taking the boys fishing, hunting, or to a Wake Forest game for tailgating. He loved attending Winston and Ava’s soccer games, Ava’s dance recitals, and there wasn’t a day you would not see Bentley perched in the passenger seat of Vance’s truck for his daily ride around town.
Vance was an avid outdoorsman, a true sports fan in every sense of the word, with a love for NASCAR, Wake Forest, and Richmond Raider Football. For over 40 years he considered himself an honorary Raiders coach from the sidelines. He loved hunting with the Glider Road Hunt Club and socializing with his friends for weekend golf trips and couples club.
Vance and Day were longtime members of First Presbyterian Church of Hamlet, where Vance served as a deacon and elder for many years. In recent years, he spent his Sundays with his grandchildren at First Baptist Church of Hamlet. He was a member of the Wake Forest Deacon Club for over 60 years and president of Richmond Raider Booster Club for many years.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Day Land of Hamlet; son, Bryan Land of Rockingham and daughter-in-law, Christy, grandson Winston and granddaughter Ava; sister-in-law, Kay Rogers (Jeff) of Lumberton; sister-in-law, Wanda Land of Roswell, Georgia; and nieces Amanda Vinson (Bo) of Montgomery, Alabama, Kathryn Simms (Jay) of Atlanta, Georgia, Becky Hansen (Ryan) of Roswell, Georgia; many cousins, and numerous others that called him Papa.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Ruth Sykes Land and William Raines Land; and his brother, William Raines Land III.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 9, 2025 from 1-3 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Hamlet, 208 Charlotte St., Hamlet, followed by the funeral service at 3 p.m. officiated by the Rev. Allison Farrah and the Rev. Butch Farrah. A procession to follow at Richmond Memorial Park.
All expressions of sympathy are humbly appreciated, and memorial donations may be made to: the First Baptist Church of Hamlet Youth Fund, 208 Charlotte St., Hamlet, NC 28345; First Presbyterian Church of Hamlet, 200 Rice St., Hamlet, NC 28345; or Hamlet Fire and Rescue, P.O. Box 1229, Hamlet, NC 28345.
The Land family would like to extend their deep gratitude for the exceptional care Vance received at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital Outpatient Services, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital- Richmond, Hamlet Fire and Rescue, and Richmond County Hospice, whose love and support during Vance’s last days at his home brought peace and closure to a life well spent.
Online condolences may be made at watson-kingfuneralhome.com. Watson-King Funeral Home in Hamlet is serving the Land family.
