Sonny Southerland

Sonny Southerland was born on September 24, 1948, the son of the late Hollis and Ruby Wright Southerland.

On July 13, 2009, he was united in marriage to Beverly Southerland, who survives.

Sonny was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Savannah, Tennessee, where he served as Minister of Music from 2010 until his health began to fail a few years ago. He was the founder of the Crusaders Southern Gospel Quartet in the 70s. They sang at homecomings, churches, and auditoriums all over Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Kentucky with well known groups like the Oak Ridge Boys, The Stamps Quartet, The Speer Family, The Blackwood Brothers, and the original Masters Quartet. They were one of the first groups asked to perform at the "Grand Old Gospel" show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sonny Southerland departed this life on February 17, 2026 in Savannah, Tennessee, at the age of 77 years, 4 months, and 24 days.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly Southerland; daughter, Candy Murphy (Stanton); son, Josh Southerland (Jessica); stepson, J. Gary Casey (Kim); stepdaughter, Kim Melson (Brian); sisters, Nell Moore and Sue Alexander (George); grandchildren, Ryan Murphy, Nathan Murphy, Keeley Southerland, and Kamden Southerland; step grandchildren, Hannah Jones, Lilli Stanfill, and John Casey; 6 great grandchildren; and 2 step great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Sonny was preceded in death by his son, Johnny Southerland; sister, Gwen Southerland Weaver; brothers in law, Paul Weaver and Bobby Moore; and step grandson, Blake Melson.