Aunt Rita, Sister, Sweet Rit, Grandmom, Mommy, and Ms. Harris were some of the affectionate names donned by Rita Virginia Harris (nee Washington).   Born in Cecilton, Maryland on March 21, 1924, Rita was the second oldest of 5 girls born to Nellie Jane Coursey Washington and Sterling Washington.  Rita spent her formative years in Cecilton.  She graduated from George Washington Carver High School.  Known for her generosity, Rita never said "No" to family or friend. With her beauty, kindness, and fashion, Rita caught the eye of one dashing young army soldier who was also her childhood friend, James Harris.  Eventually, on September 6, 1946, they joined in holy matrimony and produced two children, Jacquelyn and James (Bryan).    For more than seventy-five years, until the end of her life, Rita lived with her husband and children in West Philadelphia.  While in Philadelphia, she joined and was a faithful member of the Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church for more than 50 years.  At Ward, Rita served as a Church Steward (Assistant Secretary), Church Treasurer, Secretary of the Finance Committee, a Class Leader (Class #1 Elohim), Member of the Lay Organization, an Usher, on the choir, as a prayer warrior, and in many other roles.  Rita received an Unsung Hero Award and other appreciation as the Co-Chair of Women's Day and Co-Chair of the Sidewalk Affairs. She loved Ward, and the church loved her.  She especially loved the three pastors she attended under: Rev. Herman Rhodes, Rev. James K. Baldwin, and Rev. Terrence Hensford.  Rita was also a member and Past Matron of the Louisa S. Rumford Chapter No. 15 of the Eastern Star. During her time in Philadelphia, she worked for the Cassidy Richlar Distributing Company, as a commercial mail assembler, for roughly 30 years.  After retirement and in her later years, up until age 94, Rita kept busy by working in her son Bryan Harris's insurance office. She continued to operate an automobile safely on the streets of Philadelphia until age 96.  She also regularly attended exercise classes and played pinochle at the West Philadelphia Senior Center.    A quick thinker and always on the move, Rita loved to travel. She flew to the Dominican Republic at age 92 to visit her granddaughter. She traveled extensively as a younger woman throughout the region, on bus trips, and to play pinochle with family and friends.  On her 97th birthday (March 21st), Rita played pinochle for 7 hours, from 7 pm to 2 in the morning (without ever leaving her seat).   Rita was also known for hosting family holiday gatherings with delicious sweet potato pies, apple crisp, turkey, fried fish, chocolate turtles, and gifts that came from her big heart.  You were not at Rita's house unless the 5 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 10 o'clock, and 11 o'clock news were not blasting in the background as she rocked for hours on end in her rocking chair.  Between the news, Rita loved to watch TBN and anything with Steve Harvey.  And of course, as any Black woman born in the 1920s, she was excited by the idea that she could vote for the first Black president. She was immensely proud of Barack Obama, and had a mini-memorial to him, replete with pictures and other Obama paraphernalia, in her living room.  Most of all, though, Rita loved Jesus. She accepted the Lord as her Savior as a child and never wavered.  Secord to God came her family.  And her love for God constrained her to lend a helping hand, even beyond her capacity, to those in need, to her church family, to her Senior Center friends, and to many others.  By her side until the end was one special friend, Ms. Bertha Smith.  Preceding Rita in death were her husband James Harris (d. 2002); mother Nellie Washington (d. 1987); father Sterling Washington (d. 1985); sisters Hazel Fitzgerald (d. 2013), Elsie Wilson (d. 2007), Barbara Phillips (d. 2009); and grandson Bryan Daniel Harris (d. 2020). Left to mourn Rita Harris's memory are: her daughter Jacquelyn Harris; her son Bryan Harris (wife Leslie); her sister Frances Benson (husband Frank); her sister-in-law Ella Edwards; her god-daughter Maxine Ashe; her grandchildren Rasheena Reid (husband Easton), Khalil Harris, Byron Thomas (fiancée Olivia), Din Nossida, Eswa Garrett, Natania Harris, Leonard Rogers; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren, and church family and friends.