Lakeland father honors 6-year-old son after sudden death at school

LAKELAND, Fla. — A Polk County father is honoring his son’s legacy after the 6-year-old suddenly died just days before Christmas.

Jarvis Washington stood outside his home, reflecting on some of his last fond memories of his son, Mes’sia.

“He was a very playful, very lovable child,” Washington said.

Washington said Mes’sia was his usual self when he dropped him off at school on Dec. 17. Later that day, the child became unresponsive in class and died unexpectedly. Washington said doctors believe pneumonia may have contributed to his son’s death.

“And from the consistency of them trying to save his life, he went into a form of cardiac arrest,” Washington said.

Mes’sia’s family is still waiting for the official cause of death from the medical examiner’s office, a process that could take weeks or longer.

Since learning of Mes’sia’s death, community members have rallied to help raise money for funeral expenses. Washington said remaining funds will go toward a foundation he plans to launch in his son’s honor. Mes’sia was nonverbal and on the autism spectrum.

“His legacy now is going to help other individuals who are very special, very gifted, and sometimes overlooked because of perceived barriers — physical or mental — that can ultimately provide solutions to the world,” Washington said.

Washington said the organization will be called The World Is Mine Foundation, named after a message Mes’sia often carried with him.

“When he passed away, he still had on one sock, and on it, it said, ‘The world is mine,’” Washington said. “I held onto it for a couple days and thought about my son’s legacy. He reminded me we’re a lot bigger than what we perceive.”

Washington said it is a reminder that will live on forever.