The Ja’Marion Pop Grace obituary follows the death of 19-year-old Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace, a freshman defensive back at College of San Mateo who was killed in a Highway 101 crash in San Jose on September 20, 2026. Grace was a passenger in a 2013 Ford Fusion when the driver lost control; Grace was ejected and died at the scene, while two other CSM football players were injured. His family, teammates and the College of San Mateo football community have since remembered him for his energy, humor, warmth and ability to connect with people.

Ja’Marion Pop Grace Obituary: A Young College Football Player Remembered

The Ja’Marion Pop Grace obituary story is emerging following the sudden death of the 19-year-old College of San Mateo football player in a Highway 101 crash in San Jose.

Grace, known as “Pop” to family and friends, was a freshman defensive back for the College of San Mateo Bulldogs. He was from Fairfield, California, and had recently graduated from Vanden High School before beginning his college football career.

The crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, 2026, near the Yerba Buena Road exit on northbound Highway 101. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of a 2013 Ford Fusion lost control. Grace was a passenger and was ejected from the vehicle. He died at the scene.

Two other College of San Mateo football players were also injured. College officials said one remained hospitalized with serious injuries while the other was recovering at home.

While the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, the focus for Grace’s family, teammates and friends has increasingly turned toward remembering the young man he was and the impression he made during his short time at College of San Mateo.

What Happened to Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace?

Grace died following a single-vehicle collision on Highway 101 in San Jose.

CHP officers were called to the area near Yerba Buena Road at approximately 2:06 a.m. on September 20.

The preliminary investigation found that the driver of a 2013 Ford Fusion lost control while traveling northbound.

Grace was one of the passengers. He was ejected during the crash and suffered fatal injuries. The driver, a 19-year-old man from San Mateo, survived with major injuries and was taken to a hospital. Another passenger was also injured.

The investigation remains active.

Importantly, authorities have not publicly established why the driver lost control. CHP has also said it was not known whether alcohol or drugs were involved.

That means the cause of the collision should not be described as confirmed beyond the preliminary finding that the driver lost control.

Key details

• Full name: Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace
• Age: 19
• Hometown: Fairfield, California
• College: College of San Mateo
• Football team: College of San Mateo Bulldogs
• Position: Defensive back
• Previous school: Vanden High School
• Date of death: September 20, 2026
• Location of crash: Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road, San Jose
• Vehicle: 2013 Ford Fusion
• Role in vehicle: Passenger
• Cause of death: Fatal injuries suffered in the vehicle crash
• Other people involved: Two other CSM student-athletes were injured
• Investigation: California Highway Patrol
• Formal obituary: No separate official obituary was identified in the major sources reviewed
• Funeral details: Public arrangements had not been confirmed in the sources reviewed as of September 24

The crash details are supported by CHP information reported by CBS San Francisco, ABC7 and other Bay Area news organizations.

Who Was Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace?

Ja’Marion Grace was a 19-year-old freshman defensive back at College of San Mateo.

Before joining the Bulldogs, he attended Vanden High School in Fairfield, where he played football. His move to CSM marked the beginning of a new stage in his education and athletic career.

Grace had only recently started his college football career.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that he had played for College of San Mateo in its victory over Modesto Junior College shortly before the crash.

That detail has added to the sense of how suddenly his life was cut short. Grace was not a former athlete whose playing career had ended. He was an active freshman who was beginning to establish himself within the Bulldogs program.

His family and teammates knew him by the nickname “Pop.”

The nickname has become an important part of tributes following his death, with friends, relatives and teammates using it when remembering his personality and presence.

College of San Mateo Football Team Remembers Grace

The College of San Mateo football team publicly paid tribute to Grace following the crash.

The Bulldogs described him as someone who brought energy and happiness to the people around him.

The team said Grace had an infectious smile and remembered him dancing in the locker room, joking during team meetings and supporting teammates away from the field.

The tribute provides important context for an obituary because it goes beyond Grace’s statistics or position on a football roster.

His teammates remembered him as a person who contributed to the atmosphere of the team.

For the CSM football community, his death therefore represents the loss of a teammate and friend as well as a student-athlete.

Family Remembers Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace

Grace’s family has also spoken publicly about him following his death.

His mother, Ashley Grant, told ABC7 that she had spoken with her son on Saturday night, only hours before the crash.

She recalled receiving a message from him asking for some money and said his final message included a “Thank you Mom” with hearts. She later woke to calls and messages before learning that her son had died.

The family has described Grace as someone who could make people smile and naturally attracted people around him.

Grant said her son had a gift for connecting with others.

His grandmother, Felicia Brown, also remembered him warmly, describing him as a person who joked and smiled frequently.

Those memories form an important part of the Ja’Marion Pop Grace obituary story because they show how his family saw him beyond his identity as a football player.

“Pop” Was Remembered for His Personality

The accounts from his family and teammates share a common theme: Grace was remembered for his personality.

His family described him as determined and dedicated, while teammates emphasized his humor, smile and energy.

KRON reported comments from Grace’s mother describing him as a young man who was still finding his way but had a great deal of life ahead of him.

His grandmother recalled him as someone who was always joking and smiling.

Those personal descriptions help explain why his death has affected people who knew him in different parts of his life.

He was a son and grandson to his family, a friend to people in his community and a teammate to the College of San Mateo football players.

Grace’s Connection to Fairfield and Vanden High School

Grace was a Fairfield native and had attended Vanden High School before joining College of San Mateo.

Reports describe him as a recent high school graduate who was transitioning into college life and collegiate football.

That transition is significant in understanding his story.

At 19, Grace was at an early stage of adulthood. He had completed high school and was beginning to build a new identity as a college student-athlete.

His sudden death ended that transition and left his family, former classmates and new teammates grieving.

The available reporting also indicates that his family had strong ties to the area, with relatives gathering in Vacaville following his death.

Two College of San Mateo Teammates Were Also Injured

The tragedy affected more than Grace.

Two other CSM football players were in the vehicle and survived the collision with injuries.

College President Manuel Alejandro Perez said three student-athletes were involved. One died, another remained hospitalized with serious injuries and a third was recovering at home.

The identities of the two injured players have not been widely reported by the major news organizations reviewed for this article.

Their medical situations may change, so details should be based only on subsequent statements from the college, families or medical authorities.

For the CSM football program, the crash therefore created both grief over Grace’s death and concern for the recovery of his teammates.

What Officials Said About the Crash

The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary findings provide the clearest official account of what happened.

Officers said the driver of the Ford Fusion lost control on northbound Highway 101.

Grace was ejected from the vehicle and died.

The driver suffered major injuries, while another passenger was also injured.

CHP has not announced a final explanation for why the vehicle lost control.

The agency also said it was unknown whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

This distinction matters because preliminary crash information is not necessarily the same as a final investigative conclusion.

At this stage, there is no verified basis for stating that impairment, speeding, distraction or a mechanical failure caused the collision.

What College of San Mateo Said About Grace

College President Manuel Alejandro Perez expressed sympathy for Grace’s family and for the other students and members of the college community affected by the crash.

The college’s statement emphasized the effect on the football team, classmates, coaches and the broader campus community.

The football program separately posted a tribute to Grace.

The team described him as part of the Bulldogs family and said his energy, smile, laughter and personality would remain part of the program’s memory.

The statements from the college and football team provide the clearest institutional recognition of Grace following his death.

The Ja’Marion Pop Grace Obituary and Funeral Information

People searching for a Ja’Marion Pop Grace obituary may also be looking for funeral or memorial-service details.

As of September 24, 2026, a separate formal obituary containing complete funeral arrangements had not been identified in the major news and official sources reviewed for this article.

A GoFundMe fundraiser created by Dominique Suber on September 21 says donations are being collected for Grace’s funeral expenses and to support his grieving family.

The fundraiser describes Grace as a son, grandson, brother and friend and says his family wants to give him a celebration of life.

The fundraiser is a family-support appeal rather than an official obituary or funeral notice. Readers should therefore rely on the family or an authorized funeral provider for confirmed service dates and locations.

What Is Known About Grace’s Memorial Arrangements?

At the time of publication, the publicly available information reviewed did not establish a confirmed funeral date, location or memorial-service schedule.

The family fundraiser indicates that funeral expenses are being addressed, but it does not by itself establish the final arrangements.

This distinction is important because online obituary pages can sometimes publish incomplete or automatically generated information before families release official details.

For readers searching for memorial information, the most reliable future sources will be a family announcement, funeral-home notice, College of San Mateo statement or another directly authorized announcement.

Community Support for the Grace Family

Following Grace’s death, members of the community began organizing financial and emotional support for his family.

The GoFundMe campaign titled “In Memory of Ja’Marion Pop Grace” was created to help with funeral costs and support the family during the aftermath of his death.

The fundraiser’s page describes Grace as someone who brought “love, laughter” and warmth to those who knew him.

As of the latest available fundraiser information retrieved for this article, the campaign had received hundreds of donations.

Because fundraising totals can change continuously, any total should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent figure.

Why Ja’Marion Grace’s Story Matters

Grace’s death has resonated because it involved a young person at the beginning of both his college education and football career.

He had recently graduated from high school, joined College of San Mateo and begun competing as a freshman defensive back.

His teammates had only recently begun building relationships with him, while his family was watching him enter a new chapter of life.

The tragedy also affected two other student-athletes who survived the crash.

For the college community, that creates a complicated period of grief: remembering Grace while also supporting the students who survived and their families.

The story also demonstrates why verified information is especially important after a fatal accident.

Initial reports can establish the location, time, vehicle and injuries while leaving the cause of a collision unresolved. In Grace’s case, CHP has said the driver lost control, but investigators have not publicly determined why.

What Happens Next?

The California Highway Patrol investigation remains ongoing.

Investigators are seeking additional information about the crash and have asked witnesses to contact the San Jose CHP office at 408-961-0900.

The investigation may eventually provide more information about the circumstances leading to the collision.

Meanwhile, Grace’s family and friends continue to mourn him, while his teammates and college community work through the loss.

The condition of the two injured CSM players may also receive further updates from the college or their families.

Funeral and memorial arrangements could be announced separately by Grace’s family.

Until then, information about a service should not be treated as confirmed unless it comes from an authorized source.

The Latest Ja’Marion Pop Grace Obituary Update

The latest verified reporting paints a consistent picture.

Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace was a 19-year-old freshman defensive back at College of San Mateo from Fairfield. He died early Sunday, September 20, after a 2013 Ford Fusion crashed on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose.

Grace was a passenger and was ejected from the vehicle.

Two other CSM football players were injured.

His family remembers him as a loving and energetic young man, while the College of San Mateo football program remembers him as a teammate who brought humor, energy and warmth to the Bulldogs community.

The crash investigation remains open, and the reason the driver lost control has not been publicly established.

A formal obituary and complete funeral arrangements had not been publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed as of September 24.

For now, the strongest public record of Grace’s life comes from the people who knew him: his family, teammates, coaches and friends. Their accounts consistently describe “Pop” as a young man who made people smile and whose presence will be deeply missed.

FAQs

Who was Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace?

Ja’Marion “Pop” Grace was a 19-year-old freshman defensive back for the College of San Mateo Bulldogs. He was from Fairfield, California, and had previously attended Vanden High School.

What happened to Ja’Marion Pop Grace?

Grace died after a single-vehicle crash on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose on September 20, 2026. He was a passenger in a 2013 Ford Fusion and was ejected when the vehicle lost control.

How old was Ja’Marion Pop Grace?

Ja’Marion Grace was 19 years old when he died.

Was Ja’Marion Grace driving the vehicle?

No. Current reporting based on CHP information identifies Grace as a passenger. The driver was a 19-year-old man from San Mateo.

Where did the Ja’Marion Grace accident happen?

The crash occurred on northbound Highway 101 near Yerba Buena Road in San Jose, California, at approximately 2:06 a.m. on September 20, 2026.

What caused Ja’Marion Grace’s death?

Grace died from injuries sustained when he was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. CHP has said the driver lost control, but the underlying cause of the collision remains under investigation.

Were other College of San Mateo football players injured?

Yes. Two other CSM student-athletes were in the vehicle and were injured. One was reported to remain hospitalized with serious injuries, while another was recovering at home.

Has the Ja’Marion Pop Grace funeral been announced?

A public funeral date and location had not been confirmed in the major sources reviewed as of September 24, 2026. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help with funeral expenses and support Grace’s family.

Is there an official Ja’Marion Pop Grace obituary?

No separate formal obituary containing complete funeral information was identified in the reliable sources reviewed. Current information about his death and remembrance comes primarily from College of San Mateo, his football team, family interviews and Bay Area news reports.