A Mississippi native who plays cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers is mourning the loss of his 1-year-old daughter.
Charvarius Ward, a native of McComb, announced the death of Amani Joy in a social media post on Tuesday. The toddler, who had Down syndrome, suddenly passed away Monday.
“We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy, passed away on Monday morning,” the NFL star and Amani Joy’s mother, Monique Cook, wrote in the joint statement. “She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear. She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us strength and bravery. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with a smile.
“Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better. She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl. We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”
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The 49ers, of which Ward has been a member for the past three seasons, issued a statement in support of the cornerback and his family.
“The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy. Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh,” the statement reads. “We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”
Sending all of our love and support to Charvarius and Monique ❤️💛#IGYB pic.twitter.com/5umxvMJcnR
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 29, 2024
Amani Joy’s journey from birth was detailed by the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this year, chronicling her diagnosis with Down syndrome before a heart defect was spotted in an ultrasound. At 10 months old, she underwent open-heart surgery.
Ward remained optimistic through it all, telling the newspaper that he had never felt joy like that of laying Amani Joy down to sleep at night and watching the child he and Cook were lucky to share.
“I put her down in her (crib) and she just looked at me and smiled,” Ward recounted. “I was just like, ‘Damn, this is just beautiful.’ And I love that feeling she gave me when she smiled.”
The 49ers are on their bye week, and from the team’s statement, it’s safe to say they will give Ward as much time as he needs before returning to the field. An undrafted free agent out of McComb High School and Middle Tennessee State, the 28-year-old began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs and helped the team win a Super Bowl before joining San Francisco in 2022. The All-Pro corner has 416 tackles and 10 interceptions in his career.
