Founder of Sonny’s BBQ, Floyd “Sonny” Tillman, Passes Away at 96

The Sonny’s BBQ family and communities across the Southeast are mourning the loss of a true visionary. Floyd “Sonny” Tillman, the beloved founder of Sonny’s BBQ and the heart behind one of America’s most cherished barbecue traditions, passed away on December 7 at the age of 96.

Sonny opened the very first Sonny’s BBQ in Gainesville, Florida, in 1968 with a simple yet powerful mission: create a place where people could slow down, sit together, and enjoy good BBQ with the ones they love. What began as a single restaurant built on warmth, hospitality, and genuine connection grew into a celebrated brand known nationwide — all rooted in Sonny’s unwavering belief in community.

Floyd "Sonny" Tillman / Photo credit: Sonny’s BBQ (Facebook)

Throughout his life, Sonny held tightly to the values that shaped that first restaurant. He led with kindness, decency, and a genuine desire to make people feel at home. Those principles didn’t just guide the business — they shaped every team member who walked through the doors, helping build the “Sonny’s family” that would grow to include thousands of employees over the decades.

Married to his wife, Lucille, for more than 70 years, Sonny was known not only as a successful entrepreneur, but as a loving husband, devoted family man, and generous soul. His gift for creating comfort and connection made every Sonny’s BBQ feel like an extension of his own dining room.

Today, his legacy lives on in every shared meal, every warm welcome, and every moment of kindness extended in his name.

The Sonny’s BBQ community asks everyone to take a moment to remember Sonny and his family — and to honor his life by spreading a little extra kindness today.

Photo credit: Sonny’s BBQ (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/sonnysbbq

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