Harrison Levi Rawlings Fitts

It is with profound shock and the heaviest of hearts that we share the sudden passing of Harrison Levi Rawlings Fitts, age 12, of Washington, DC and Culpeper, VA, on July 7, 2026. Born on July 9, 2013 in Singapore, Harrison was the beloved only son of parents Joanna and Shane Fitts. Harrison left this world too soon. After becoming suddenly ill at home in Culpeper, he was airlifted to the hospital, where doctors discovered a rapidly developing lesion in his brain that had caused irreversible damage. Despite every effort to help him, he passed away peacefully a few days later, surrounded by friends and family.

Harrison was a vibrant light in the lives of his family and friends. To know Harrison was to know a spirit defined by kindness, empathy and determination. And he loved school!

As a rising 7th Grader attending Rose L. Hardy Middle School in Washington, DC, Harrison had developed many passions. He loved playing clarinet in the school band, challenging himself in mathematics, reading literature and speaking Italian, all subjects that brought him incredible joy.

During his three years as a student at John Eaton Elementary School, Harrison thrived in this diverse and welcoming community. He developed his love of music, guided by his amazing teachers, and found his calling for the stage, performing as the role of Jack Kelly in Newsies in Fourth Grade.

He loved to throw a football, catch a flyball, shoot a basketball, jump over any obstacle, walk on the edge of every sidewalk and run…he loved running. He never wanted to stop running and playing.

This past school year running became Harrison’s passion. He joined the Hardy cross-country team in the fall, competing nationally, and then immediately joined indoor and outdoor track, loving the camaraderie of his teammates and the challenge of new events.

In his 12 years, Harrison lived more life than many adults, traveling the world, developing his palate for spicy food and appreciating culture, languages and the beauty of our natural world. He has traveled to more than 15 countries from the mountains of New Zealand to the hawkers of Singapore.

In an author bio he wrote for a 6th grade short story, Harrison described himself in his own words: “He spends his leisure time being mostly athletic, like riding bikes, running or playing catch, but sometimes he just needs time to get cozy and read a book, preferably by a fire. He has a strong passion for writing and loves to grab a pencil and let his imagination go wild.”

Please do not use the link on the website to order flowers.