Funeral services will be Thursday for Terry Pope, Red Bank vice mayor, who died suddenly at his home on Saturday.

 

            Born in Chattanooga on March 17, 1954, Mr. Pope was reared in North Georgia and was a 1972 graduate of Lakeview High School and co-captain in the band. He graduated in 1977 from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a bachelor’s degree in music education and served as the band director at North Sand Mountain and Marion County High Schools before going into the music store business as an outside sales representative and manager of Giant Steps Music Inc.

in Chattanooga.

 

He built the Marion County Band program, elevating it to superior ratings in competitions and festivals. Loved by his students, many stayed in contact with him over the years. In 1990-’91, he served as interim band director at Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe High School. He later was a sales representative for  Industrial Supply Company before returning to his first love, music, and opening his own instrument rental business, Great Southern Instrument Rental and Sales. He was operating this enterprise at the time of his death.

 

He was a professional trumpet player, playing with local bands, churches and national touring groups that performed in Chattanooga. He performed with Steve Allen, Buddy Morrow, Bill Watrus, The Ojays, The Platters, Carol Channing, Ringling Brothers Circus and several ice shows, to name a few. He played taps for veterans’ funerals at the National Cemetery. He was a pioneer of and played lead trumpet with Chattanooga’s Monday Night Jazz Band for many years and played with the MidSouth Symphonic Band. He was the jazz band director at Chattanooga State.

 

Mr. Pope taught many high school trumpet and band section rehearsals throughout the area and, on occasion, escorted instrumental groups’ travel. He served for six years as assistant director and trumpet instructor for the Georgia All Star Band in its travels to Paris and London.

      

  For many years, he was president of the Red Bank Community Pool’s advisory board. He served on the Red Bank Planning Commission for two years, then was elected to the Red Bank Board of Commissioners for six years, two as vice mayor.

 

Mr. Pope was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity and a lifetime member of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and the Mocs Club. He attended Red Bank United Methodist Church.

           

            The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at Chattanooga Funeral Home, North Chapel and again at Red Bank United Methodist Church on Thursday prior to the service from noon to 1 p.m.  The funeral service will be at Red Bank United Methodist Church on Thursday at 1 p.m. A graveside service will follow at Chattanooga Memorial Park.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Red Bank Community Food Bank, care of Red Bank United Methodist Church, 3800 Dayton Blvd, Red Bank TN 37415.