We send our condolences and prayers to the family of Terry and the many friends across the industry. Always a positive promoter of beach music and the industry she will certainly be missed by many. Please find her full obituary below along with a link to send your condolences to the family on the funeral home website.

OBITUARY    -     SEND YOUR CONDOLENCES

Terry Lynn Sossamon Gleason, 66, of Mt. Pleasant, NC passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 surrounded by her family and a few close friends. Terry was born to the late Leonard Brown Sossamon, Sr., and Jerline Aldridge Sossamon in Cabarrus County on December 30, 1958. A 1977 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School, she was the youngest of 5 children and the only girl in a household of big brothers.

Well known for her love of beach music, Terry was loved in return by her beach music family. She was an administrator for the Facebook groups “Beach Music Café” and “Beach Music”. She helped “Beach Music Café” grow from less than 20,000 members to almost 50,000 in the years she spent as Administrator/Moderator. She wrote inspirational & motivational blogs for both groups; touching thousands of people as Terry wrote from her heart.

Terry was preceded in death by her beloved son Tyler Shane Poole and her parents. Surviving to cherish her memory is her son Joshua Brown Poole, granddaughters Caroline and Annabelle Poole, brothers Leonard (Esther), Joel (Delores), Randy (Pattie), Robin (Pam), and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Her life will be remembered at Gordon Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from 11 AM – 1 PM. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 PM which will be officiated by her cousin Pastor Frank Sossamon.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed in Terry’s name to CVAN, for donation information, call 704.788.1108 or VIA Health Partners P.O. Box 470408 Charlotte, NC 28247. 

The beach music industry is mourning the loss of John Lewis Hall, Jr. We were so saddened to hear this news as John has been an avid supporter of Flip Flop Live since we launched as well as a dear friend to us and so many others across the beach music industry. We send our love and prayers to his wife Phyllis and the entire family. We've included his obituary below and a link if you'd like to sign the online guestbook. 

Obituary  - Sign the Guest Book

John “Johnny” Lewis Hall, Jr., 77, of Colonial Heights, VA, passed away surrounded by his family on Monday, January 13, 2025. Born in Suffolk, VA on May 5, 1947, he was the son of the late John Lewis Hall and Hazel Rosetta Jones Hall. 

Johnny grew up in Ivor, VA, and graduated from Southampton High School. He then earned his associate degree from Richard Bland College. He was a member of The Heights Baptist Church in Colonial Heights, VA and Butterwood Methodist Church in Blackstone, VA.

Johnny’s passion for music began in 1962 at just 14 years old, when he played his first dance aboard a ferry crossing Virginia’s historic James River. With an armful of records and a new stereo player, he sparked a lifelong love for entertaining. Over the decades, Johnny became a cherished figure in the Beach Music community, spinning tunes for shag and bop clubs from Virginia to Florida and serving as the house DJ for Petersburg’s iconic “Thursday in Old Town” event. He was an esteemed member of the SOS DJ team at Fat Harold’s Beach Club and a dedicated leader in the National Association of Rhythm & Blues Dee Jays, where he served as Treasurer and Vice President. The last thing he did in his radio career was his daily afternoon radio internet show, “Jukin’ Oldies” in which he was very passionate about.

Johnny’s life was equally marked by service and dedication. A veteran of the U.S. Army and the Virginia Army National Guard, he retired as a Major after 25 years, earning the Bronze Star for his distinguished service. Alongside his military career, Johnny worked 41 years in the tobacco industry – working for both Brown and Williamson and Philip Morris. In his 40s, he further exemplified his dedication to his community by working as an EMT and fireman. He first started as an EMT in Petersburg for many years. He decided he needed to do more, and went to fire school in Chesterfield County. Johnny then served in Colonial Heights as both an EMT and fireman. 

Johnny also found joy in fishing, racing motorcycles, and RVing to numerous places, including Florida where he and his wife lived in the wintertime. Despite his careers and hobbies, family was the most important thing to Johnny. He loved his wife, sons, and pets immensely. He was a good Christian man, a true friend always willing to help others, and a devoted provider to his family.

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Phyllis E. Hall; beloved sons, Sean C. Hall and Austin H. Hall; granddaughter, Ava Elizabeth Hall; sister, Pamela Joyner; nephew, Colton S. Pulley; and many other extended family members.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Butterwood United Methodist Church, Darvills Road, Blackstone, Virginia, 23824. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Colonial Heights Chapel of E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in honor of Johnny to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, t2t.org