Funeral service for Jethro Stevie Harbison, 81, of Cullman, will be Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at Seventh Street Baptist Church, Cullman. The visitation will be Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Seventh Street Baptist Church. Rev, Eric Martin will officiate the service. The interment will be in Cullman City Cemetery.
Cullman Funeral Home is honored to serve the Harbison family.
Jethro Harbison passed away in his home in Cullman, on Saturday, April 1, 2023, just four days
from his 82nd birthday. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, June Kirkland
Harbison, his parents, Oscar Stevie Harbison and Vyria Hale Harbison, and granddaughter,
Maleigh Ellen James.
He is survived by daughters Laura Harbison Doss (Morrow) and Julia Harbison James (Ken), son
Steve Harbison (Paula); eight grandchildren, Leah Doss Lewis (Forrest), Emma Doss Fry
(Kendrick), Ethan James (Alex), Garrett James (Ashley), Lacey James Host (Ryan), Mikayla James
Sogers (Jordan), Tyler Newman, SaraBeth Harbison; and fifteen great-grandchildren, Travis
Lewis, Anson Lewis, Holden James, Charlie James, Eloise James, Henry James, Grayson James,
Ezra James, Rylan James, Madeline James, Maleigh Host, Isaiah Host, Selah Host, Julia Host,
Ezekiel Sogers; sisters Earlene Simmons and Deborah Oldacre (Michael), and one brother, Larry
Harbison (Sandra). He also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jethro earned a Bachelor of Science in Education at Jacksonville State University and a Masters
of Science from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. He taught public school in Cullman
County for 32 years, during which time he was named Cullman County Teacher of the Year and
represented the Cullman County Education Association at the national convention in 1974. He
also taught science at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, AL.
During his career, he served as minister of music for several area churches including St.
Andrew’s Methodist, Good Hope Baptist, Southside Baptist, Holly Pond Baptist, and Hayden
Baptist, ending his career at Seventh Street Baptist Church. He was a lover of choral music,
classical music and opera.
He was a long-time member of the Cullman Community Concert Association Board and the
Cullman County Museum Board. He was an active member of Cullman Retired Teachers
Association and supported the alumni associations of both Jacksonville State University and the
University of Oklahoma.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy can be posted to www.cullmanfuneralhome.com for the Harbison family.
