ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The NFCA is saddened and sends it condolences to the Winthrop University softball community after learning about the tragic passing of former Eagle standout and Canadian National Team member Janiva Willis.
Willis (Class of 2005 and 2008) died in an automobile accident on Tuesday night near Van Horn, Texas. The State Police report indicated the car in which she was riding with driver Jeffrey Turner was struck by a tractor-trailer truck. Turner was also killed in the accident.
According to the Texas Highway Patrol, the crash was reported around 9 p.m. on eastbound Interstate 10 in Hudspeth County about five miles west of Van Horn.
Janiva was making a 3,714 mile cross country bicycle journey from San Diego to Charlotte to raise funds for the "I Dream in Colors Tour," a nonprofit mission to raise money for mentoring initiatives in Rock Hill and other cities. A clinical social worker by training and profession, Willis stepped away from her work to launch I Dream in Colors, which provides positive life experiences, specifically to children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or in need of additional academic and life support. Willis served as executive director of the Charlotte-based nonprofit organization.
"We are stunned by this tragic news. Janiva was such a vibrant and positive person to be around," said Winthrop athletic director Tom Hickman. "She was so excited about the work she was doing to help mentor the youth in this area and was such a great role model. We were eagerly awaiting her arrival back to Rock Hill following her journey. She certainly made her mark on both our softball program and the university. She will be missed."
She departed San Diego on March 26 on the trip that was to cover 11 states and 60 cities in 57 days. She was scheduled to arrive in Rock Hill on June 9 and then depart for Charlotte for the last leg of her journey on June 11 following a planned rally on the Winthrop campus on June 10.
A native of Irishtown, New Brunswick, Canada, Janiva excelled during her years at Winthrop as both an athlete and a student. She was a four-year (2002-05) All-Big South performer and was selected the NCAA South Carolina Woman of the Year in 2005 and was a top 10 finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year. She went on to play for the Canadian National Team in 2005 and 2007, and was an Olympian. In 2012, she was inducted into the Winthrop Athletics Hall of Fame.
As a student, she was voted to the 2005 CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team and was a 2005 Arthur Ashe Scholar recipient. She was a four-time Big South Presidential Honor Roll member and NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete. She earned Winthrop's President's (4.0 GPA) and Dean's Lists (3.5 GPA). Willis served as a member of the Winthrop Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for three years. In 2013 she was invited back to her alma mater to deliver the Winthrop Convocation address to the incoming freshman class.
"While I did not have the opportunity to meet Janiva Willis, clearly she had a lasting impact on this community," said Winthrop president Daniel Mahony. "As a student, athlete, social worker, and most recently head of a non-profit focusing on mentoring, Janiva exemplified all that we seek out and nurture in Winthrop students: a positive attitude, courageous spirit, passion for what she believed in, and 'never say never' outlook. She passed away living her dream to make a difference in the lives of our youth. Her memory will continue to inspire me and the Winthrop community."
-- Courtesy of Winthrop Athletics
