Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, 19, has died following a car crash on September 20. Two teammates who were travelling with him were also injured.

Grace was a passenger in a vehicle on Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver lost control shortly after 2 a.m. Grace was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The driver and another passenger were injured.

For his mother, Ashley Grant, one memory from that night has become especially precious. Grace had asked her for some money. After she sent it, he replied, “Thank you, Mom,” followed by heart emojis. It was the last message she received from her son.

The exchange was brief, but it captured the affection between them: a familiar request, a mother’s care and a son’s loving thanks. Now, those ordinary words carry extraordinary meaning for a family facing a loss no parent should have to endure.

Teammates remember Grace as a young man with a radiant smile and positive energy. They say he had a way of lifting the mood around him and making people feel welcome. His presence mattered beyond the game: he was a friend and teammate whose warmth left a lasting impression on those who knew him.

The crash has left his teammates and wider community grieving while also hoping for the recovery of the two injured men. Friends, coaches and loved ones are holding Grace’s family close in their thoughts as they remember a young life cut short.

At just 19, Grace had so much ahead of him. Those who loved him will remember the joy he brought into a room, the bonds he built with his teammates and the tenderness in his final message to his mother. His story is one of heartbreak, but also of the lasting love and memories he leaves behind.

Rest in peace, Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace. You were taken far too soon, and you will be remembered with love.