A California basketball star has been forced to give up his dream of caring for his younger siblings after they were orphaned.
Money Williams is a Division 1 basketball player and promising guard from the University of Montana.
He was on the court during a game in Reno, Nevada, when he received the devastating news that his father Money Williams Sr. had died in November 2023.
Less than a year later, her mother, Latoya Bailey, passed away in her sleep, leaving behind her five children.
‘Imagine losing the king and queen of your house in one year. “That is the heartbreaking reality our family faces,” Williams said.
California basketball star Money Williams has been forced to give up his dream of caring for his younger siblings after they were orphaned. Pictured: Williams with his late parents and now orphaned siblings.
He and his sister Mo’Ney have taken responsibility for their three younger siblings: Joanna, Jermaine and Jeremiah Benson.
“The weight of this responsibility, along with our pain, is immense,” Williams said.
Ask for donations to help pay for funeral expenses and support the family in the wake of the tragedy.
In an emotional tribute, Williams praised his mother as “the heart and soul of the Williams family.”
“He had a magical touch, turning simple moments into cherished memories and ordinary meals into banquets filled with laughter and warmth,” he said.
‘When times were tough, she stretched every dollar, making sure her children never felt the weight of the struggle.
‘Through his actions, he taught the five of us the value of hard work, resilience, and the deep power of unconditional love.
‘Every sacrifice he made was a testament to his fierce dedication. “She inspired us to dream big, making the impossible seem possible.”
Williams graduated from Oakland High School last year. During his senior year he led the school to a state championship for the first time, averaging 17.4 points, KRON4 information.
In his college career, the star athlete scored 70 points in his final four games before suffering a foot injury.
He was identified as a potential star and named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on December 5.