Barbara Ann Thomas Salloum

Barbara Ann Thomas Salloum (née Thomas) of Gulfport, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 21, 2024.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Kaleel George “Teal” Salloum, Sr; her parents, Victoria and Edward Thomas, her stepmother Elaine, and her brother Clifton Thomas.

Barbara is survived by her son, Kaleel "Teal" Salloum, Jr, (Georgia), and their children, Kaleel "Teal" Salloum, III, Thomas David Salloum, and Edward Courtenay Salloum; her daughters, Victoria Salloum Chambers (Robert), and Alison Salloum (Peg Reese). She is also survived by her brothers Edward Thomas (Mary Evalyn) and Douglas Thomas (Buffy); sisters Dolores (Curt) Ulmer and Loretta (George) Holmes; and many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family members. 

Barbara was born in Jackson, Mississippi. She attended Dominican College in New Orleans and earned a B.A. in English from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.

Barbara’s childhood home was filled with music. The violins, piano and tight harmony between she and her siblings lead to a lifetime of performing. 

Barbara and her brothers Cliff and Ed Thomas recorded four records in Memphis for Sun Records Company for Sam Phillips. Cliff sang the lead, Ed played the piano, Cliff and Ed wrote the songs, and Barbara and Ed sang background. Their first release, “I’m On My Way Home,” was performed on American Bandstand on March 14, 1958. Barbara recorded another record with her brothers, under the title “Bobbie and the Boys.” She was the lead vocalist singing “To Tell Truth", and “These Silly Blues.” 

 In 1960, Barbara married her “Notre Dame Man,” Kaleel, who proudly supported all of her endeavors and never missed an opening night. 

She was the lead in numerous local theatre productions, including Brigadoon, South Pacific, Gypsy (twice), Hello Dolly, Funny Girl, Mame, and Best Little Whore House in Texas. 

In 1977, she stepped back in front of a camera when WLOX launched Good Morning South Mississippi. For more than ten years, residents of the Gulf Coast woke up to the show’s opening theme song sung by host Barbara – “Everywhere You Go, Sunshine Follows You”—and waited for her to spin around in her chair to say, “Hello and Good Morning South Mississippi!” with her trademark smile. Thanks to the show's popularity, it was chosen as one of just four talk shows nationwide to be featured on ABC’s Good Morning, America. Barbara retired from WLOX-TV on December 4, 1998.

Barbara and her talented friends created the Sounds of the Holidays event for the Gulf Coast chapter of the American Heart Association which has raised more than one million dollars for the organization. The event recently celebrated 25 years of giving and Barbara was recognized for her role in the start of this Gulf Coast tradition.

She also published a cookbook with her dear friend Celia Faulk in 1988, How to be a Star in Your Kitchen. The book was reprinted after Hurricane Katrina with proceeds going to the American Heart Association.

Barbara was a member of Revelers carnival organization and past president and queen of Merry Maskers. Barbara was a sustaining member of Junior Auxiliary and was a member of the Gulfport Ladies Auxiliary. She was also a member of Kappa Delta Sorority at Millsaps College. She was an avid Bridge player and loved to visit with family and friends at the Gulfport Yacht Club (GYC).

Barbara was a devoted member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Her church, family, and friends were the center of her life. Barbara’s grandsons gave her great joy and she treasured every moment with them.

With all these accolades and moments in the spotlight, she will rest in peace with a song in her heart of gratitude for her life and her deeply held Catholic faith. We love you, Mom.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 25, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Gulfport, with a visitation for family and friends from 9:30 AM until the Mass. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport.

 In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations to the Mrs. George Salloum Charity Fund (a charitable trust fund in honor of Teal's mother), c/o Bert Bertucci, 708 Klondyke Rd, Long Beach, MS 39560; St. Vincent DePaul at St John Catholic Church, 2417 17th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501; or American Heart Association (110 Veterans Memorial Blvd, Suite 160, Metairie, LA 70005).