C.J. Harbison, age 58, died on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 in Herrin, Illinois. The son of Rex and Toots Harbison, he was the younger of their two children. C.J. dedicated the majority of his life to expanding the opportunities available to the children of our community. A passionate supporter of the fine arts, C.J. spent decades building and leading local theatre and speech programs to the benefit of countless local students. He will be remembered as a stubborn and passionate leader, never scared to speak his mind and always willing to fight for what he thought was right. He is survived by his three children – Jason (Katelin), Tyler, and Katharine, their mother Jerri, his father Rex, his sister Debbie Hill. His mother, Toots, preceded him in death in 2017. There will be no visitation. A graveside service will be held at 11am on Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Raleigh Cemetery. Those attending should meet at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Harrisburg High School Speech Team. Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be sent via the website www.colonialterracefuneralhome.com