Christopher Rabon Harper, born January 15 th , 1972, unexpectedly departed this life on March 21st, 2026 at just 54 years old.

A proud “local boy” and Charleston native, Chris grew up on James Island off Fort Johnson Road, and loved roaming and exploring the local forests, rivers, and beaches our town has to offer. Chris’ loved ones knew him for his big smile, bigger laugh, bone dry sense of humor, generosity of spirit, and endless capacity to care for others. He was able to find a friend in anyone, see the best in them, and still tease them just enough to keep their ego in check. His loud radio voice may have often dominated the conversation, but his limitless stories kept those who loved him most entertained enough to never mind. He was truly larger than life and impossible to sum up. Those lucky enough to have known him, simply know.

In his adult life Chris developed a great love of travel, venturing to many countries including places like: Costa Rica, Thailand, Africa, the Netherlands, Mexico, and France. When home in Charleston, he filled his days riding his Harleys with his buddies, boating through the Charleston Harbor to Morris Island with his wife, and learning about art, technology, music, and culture—forever a student of life.

Finally, one of his most endearing passions was his love of animals. From cats to dogs, squirrels to snakes, Chris loved them all. Although he had many animals, he had a particular affinity for small Yorkies. He adopted four throughout his life that especially stole his heart: Elvis, Olive, Lil Wayne and Oprah. You’ve never seen a small dog love a big man so much.

Chris’s children were his life. He brought up Raya and Max with endless laughter, everlasting love, and unconditional fulfilment. Chris wanted to make his time with them really count, and much of that time was during their Christmas break. Christmases were his favorite holiday, and he filled them with memories in the most unique way to him. This included making family music videos to Gangnam Style and Harlem Shake, and he lived for getting involved with the videography, costumes, and choreography. He will live on through the memories made in Christmases with Raya and Max to come; his smile stretched across his face after taking a bite of his favorite slice of homemade pie, his laughter in listening to the 24-hour replay of A Christmas Story, his warm heart in the roaring fire, his generosity in the spirit of giving back to those who need it.

In the past year he found much comfort in meditation, especially at the Wednesday night Eleven Step Conscious Contact Group. He additionally began studying guitar, learning songs like “American Pie”, “Heart of Gold”, and “Simple Man”, purely out of a love of music and desire to spread his joy. He would have encouraged anyone he knew to seek solace through the practices of music and meditation.

He was preceded in death by his father, Floyd R. Harper, and his mother, Jennifer Walker Weinstein.

Chris is survived by his wife, Emma Harper; his two children, Raya Kleinbart and Max Kleinbart; his sister, Rebecca “Becky” Gaines, and her husband, Tron Gaines; and his niece and nephew, Saylor Gaines and North Gaines.

Memorial Service will take place on April 5, 2026 , 1:00-4:00 PM at  823 N Colony Dr, Charleston SC, 29407 Bright attire encouraged