FREDDIE HARRIS JR.

March 18, 1946 - September 3, 2014

Dr. Freddie â€Å"Fred†B. Harris, Jr. (Ph.D.), 68 of Kankakee, died Wednesday, September 3, 2014. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., Sunday, September 7, 2014 at Lax Mortuary in Kankakee. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 8, 2014 at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church where he was a member. Burial will be in Mound Grove Gardens of Memory. Fred Harris, Jr. was born March 18, 1946 in Wabash, Arkansas to Louise Perry and Freddie B. Harris, Sr., who preceded him in death. He accepted Christ at an early age. Fred was a 1966 graduate of Eliza Miller High School in Helena, AR. He went on to obtain a Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Science from Arkansas AM&N College in Pine Bluff (which is now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff). On July 1, 1970, Fred married Correnthia Grant and from this 30 year union three joys of their lives were born, Freddie B. Harris, III, Monique LaJuan Harris and Jennifer Nicole Harris. He accepted a teaching position at Port Huron Area School System after graduating and remained there until August 1979. Over the next eight years, Fred taught Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science and Physics at Kimbell Junior High School and Port Huron High School in Port Huron, MI. While he was teaching there, Fred traveled 60 miles back and forth to Wayne State University where he received his Masters in 1971 and his Doctorate in Education in 1981. In 1979, Dr. Harris moved his family to Kankakee, IL where he accepted an assistant principal position at St. Anne High School in St. Anne, IL. Over the next several years, Fred B. Harris was principal and superintendent. After leaving St. Anne, he accepted an assistant principal position at Kankakee High School where he remained until his retirement in 2004. Fred B. Harris was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 32nd degree Mason, NAACP, and various school district committees and professional associations. Fred was an avid golfer who enjoyed spending several hours on the golf course. He understood the importance of obtaining a good education and devoted his life to motivating others to reach their educational goals. He is survived by his three loving children, Fred B. Harris, III of Tallahassee, FL, Monique L. Harris, of Milwaukee, WI and Jennifer N. Harris of Atlanta, GA; three sisters, Jaclyn Woodard, Renae Harris and Claudia Stevenson; four brothers, Earnest Mitchell, Carl Harris, Robert (Denise) Harris and Attorney Art (Elaine Doddard) Harris; four in-laws, Alsenior Davis, Tavis (Leona) Grant, Harvey (Lorraine) Grant and Ruby (Rev. Alex) Crittenden. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. His wife Correnthia preceded him in death.