October 22, 1997 – April 15, 2026
A Eulogy is written and read for two reasons: to honor CJ in our own way with our own memories and to bring comfort and hopefully ease and aide in closure for those of us left with this void. I had the pleasure of knowing this handsome young lad named CJ Slater. His earlier years where he was full of laughter and always eager to help anyone he could. CJ loved sports, whether it was playing lacrosse, football, soccer, and wrestling in middle and high school or watching the Pittsburg Steelers win. (We only mention the wins). CJ was just 28 years old when he left this Earth. His passing on April 15, 2026 will forever be etched in the memories of those of us he has left behind. CJ had hopes and dreams. He was working hard at become a local trusted handyman for the community. When he put his mind to something, he reminded even himself at how wonderfully smart and talented he was. CJ was born in Waukegan, Illinois to two proud parents. He did his best to make them proud when he was little. Later in life when the good moments would shine through him, you could find CJ reading, or going to the lake, or simply being around his loved ones. For those of us that knew him in his many chapters of life, please chose this time to pick a chapter and chose the happiest. That is what he would want. I want us to grieve CJ’s life, for we will never know of his internal struggles. But we can honor him by speaking of his heart and know that he is with his grandfather, Ronald “Ron” Kempner; great-grandparents, Virgil and Cleo Elston, Lewis and Lara Slater. We will hold onto our memories of the good times, it does no good to dwell on the past. Perhaps that is one lesson we can take from CJ. He did not live in the past or stay focused on one negative. It was evident when he would look at his son, Wrenn Nikko. CJ is survived by his mother, Kathleen (Kathy) M. Kempner who will miss his smile. His father and stepmother, William “Boyd” and Kathleen Slater along with his brother, Samuel J. Britt and stepbrother, James R. Lefler. CJ also leaves behind grandparents, William and Judy Slater and Carol Guenther. As well as step grandmother, Kristy Kempner. CJ’s family holding onto light that they will one day see him again in Heaven. CJ leaves behind aunts and uncles; Jeffrey Slater, Susanne (Dean) Miller, Karen (John) Shull, Kelly (David) Gipson, Kristine Knutson(knutson), and Charles Guenther; cousins: Elizabeth, Emily, Patrick, Kelsea, Zac, Billy, Allison, and Emmett, Oliver, Haven, and Cullen.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 5:00pm to 8:00om at Moore-Cortner Funeral home. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, Aprill 22, 2026, at 11:00am from the chapel at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Franklin memorial Gardens with family and friends serving as pallbearers, taking CJ to its final resting place. Go rest my sweet friend. In the good moments we will hold on to. We know his battle was not easy, it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge how hard it
was for him on those good days to shine through. So that is why we must focus on the good too. That is why we must shine for CJ.
Moore-Cortner Funeral Home 300 1st Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)967-2222, www.moorecortner.com
