Susan Harrison, a lifelong resident of Greenville, North Carolina, passed away on Tuesday, December 28, 2025, in what authorities are investigating as an apparent suicide. A native of the area, she was a graduate of Pitt Community College, one of eastern North Carolina’s prominent institutions offering associate degrees, workforce training, and transfer programs that have supported generations of local students since 1961.
Harrison’s connection to the college reflected her commitment to education and personal growth in a community known for its vibrant university town atmosphere, anchored by East Carolina University and a strong emphasis on higher learning opportunities. Her death has deeply affected Greenville, a city where residents often share close ties through family, faith, and local institutions, leaving many to reflect on the enduring impact of her presence.
Harrison was widely remembered as a devoted mother whose life revolved around her family, particularly her son Jayden Harrison. She exemplified warmth, kindness, and unwavering support, qualities that endeared her to neighbors, friends, and those she encountered in daily life.
The tragedy of Harrison’s passing is compounded by the violent death of her son, Jayden Harrison, on July 4, 2023. The 21-year-old was found shot in the parking lot of Planet Fitness at 801 Thomas Langston Road shortly before 1 a.m., initially reported as a cardiac arrest before an autopsy confirmed homicide by a gunshot to the face that injured a major blood vessel and spinal cord.
Jayden, a Greenville native who attended Arendall Parrott Academy and graduated from J.H. Rose High School in 2019, had recently pre-registered for classes at Pitt Community College and was focused on fitness and personal improvement. His death stunned the community, prompting Susan to make emotional public pleas for information and justice, highlighting the family’s suffering and the need for closure.
The investigation into Jayden’s homicide progressed through diligent police work by the Greenville Police Department and Winterville Police, with DNA evidence linking the case to a prior 2022 shooting. On March 8, 2024, authorities arrested Joshua Kadarius Rosenburg, who was 17 at the time of the crime and later charged as an adult with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.
Surveillance footage placed him near Planet Fitness that night, and the case advanced to Superior Court. Susan expressed profound relief upon the arrest, describing it as the beginning of justice for her son, though the legal process continued to unfold amid ongoing grief.
Harrison’s life and her son’s untimely death have underscored the heavy toll of violence and loss on families in Greenville, a community that values support networks, mental health resources, and collective healing. Her resilience after Jayden’s murder inspired many, as she openly shared her pain while urging compassion and awareness.
