John Thomas Harrison was born February 9, 1930 in Homer, Louisiana to the late Thomas and Annie Mae Harrison.
John grew up on a farm where he learned the value of hard work. He carried that same work ethic throughout his life and into his military career. John was a combat soldier in the U.S. Army during the Korean War He took pride in his military achievement having received a National Defense Service Medal, Army of Cooperation Medal Germany and a Good Conduct Medal.
Following his military service, John returned to Kern County where he began his career with the Bakersfield City School District. In the mid-1970s, John converted to Islam and changed his name to Yacub Tauheed Salahuddin, and was an active member of the Muslim community.
Yacub/John married his wife Sylvia in 1974 and later had their son John Thomas Harrison Jr. Yacub/John and Sylvia spent 46 years together until his passing.
All who met him loved Yacub. He was a kind and gentle man whose smile lit up any room. He enjoyed sharing his stories of days spent in foxholes during the Korean War and his childhood days on the farm. His stories always ended with a beautiful lesson or a little giggle and he made sure there was a lesson to share.
Yacub is survived by his wife Sylvia and only son John (Jennifer), grandsons Jonathan, Jacob, Elijah and Isaiah, and granddaughter Jazmin, stepchildren Paul, Michael, Edna and Glenn and many step grandchildren, step great-grandchildren and more.
Yacub is proceeded in death by his parents Thomas and Annie Harrison, stepdaughters Claudia, Carol and Sylvia Annette.
Services entrusted to the Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary
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