Sonny Mann

He was born in Nashville, Tenn., to the late Samuel and Virginia Mann. He was also predeceased by his older brother, John Ray Mann of Tennessee; and sister, Alma Ruth Cowing of Chester, S.C.

Shortly after marrying his hometown sweetheart, Barbara, Sonny entered the Navy as an enlisted Seaman Recruit and then progressed through the enlisted ranks to Chief Petty Officer, before being commissioned into the Navy’s officer ranks where he advanced to the rank of Navy Captain. He served in the Navy’s elite Submarine Force during his entire Navy career of 36 years. He was a graduate of the Navy’s Nuclear Power School and associated training, and earned Bachelor and Masters degrees from Valdosta State University.

Among his Navy duty assignments, Sonny served in the commissioning crew of the nuclear attack submarine USS HADDO (SSN 604); Chief Engineer, USS TIRANTE (SS420); Engineering Staff, Submarine Squadron 14, Holy Loch, Scotland; Engineering Staff, Submarine Squadron 16, Rota, Spain; Commanding Officer, USS OAKRIDGE; Executive Officer, Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Georgia; Executive Officer, Trident Submarine Refit Facility, Bangor, Washington; Chief Staff Officer, Submarine Squadron 14, Holy Loch, Scotland; and, as Commanding Officer, Naval Submarine Support Facility Lower Base, Naval Submarine Base, New London, Conn.

Sonny and his family traveled to many parts of the world during his Naval career, and resided in Holy Loch, Scotland and Rota, Spain for a total of eight years, where the Navy operated Nuclear Guided Missile Submarine Squadrons.

During his Navy career, he was the recipient of numerous awards and commendations, up to and including the Presidential Legion of Merit.

Following retirement from the U.S. Navy, Sonny was employed at, and retired from, the U.S. Department of Energy Pantex Plant located in the outlying plains of Amarillo, Texas. At Pantex, he served in several management positions, up to and including Weapons Quality Assurance Department Head. The Pantex Plant is a high security nuclear weapons facility where the nation’s nuclear weapons are built and retrograded for all branches of the United States military.

Following retirement from Pantex, Sonny and his wife, Barbara, relocated to Fernandina Beach, Fla., where he worked in real estate until his complete retirement. Among his community associations were the Nassau County Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA); Fernandina Beach Police Auxiliary Corps; Lions Clubs of Fernandina Beach and Callahan, Fla.; and the Men’s Newcomers Club.

In addition to his beloved wife, Barbara, of 65 years, Sonny is survived by four children: son, Samuel Mann of Nashville, Tenn.; daughter, Cindy Holt (Flip) of Ponte Vedra, Fla.; daughter, Shari Eberspeaker (Dave) of Rock Hill, S.C.; son, Randy (Joy) of Kingsland, Ga.; and grandsons, Justin Mann of Raleigh, N.C., Thomas Mann of St. Simons Island, Ga., Eric Eberspeaker, Lt., U.S. Navy, Norfolk, Va., and Jeffrey Eberspeaker, LTJG, U.S. Navy, San Diego, Calif.

A memorial service was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Fernandina Beach on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at 2 p.m.

The family received friends and family beginning at 1 p.m. until the hour of service.

Sonny was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Fernandina Beach, where he will be laid to rest in a private service, held in the Church’s Memorial Garden.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the First Presbyterian Church, 9 North 6th Street, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 “Youth Programs;” or Humane Society of Fernandina Beach, Fla.

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