ATHENS, Ga. — Devin Willock, the University of Georgia football player who was killed in an early-morning crash Sunday that happened hours after the team's national championship celebration, will be remembered in both private and public celebrations of life in two different states.
The school released information on services Friday. The first of the remembrances for Willock, 20, will be held Saturday in Athens, a private service for members of the UGA football program - coaches, players, staff - and school administration.
“He was a great human being. You know, always loving and caring and always willing to give a helping hand, a kind word. He was a great son,” his mother Sharlene Willock previously told NBC News.
A public celebration of life will then be held in Willock's native New Jersey on Friday, Jan. 27.
The information for that service is as follows:
- Date: Friday, Jan. 27
- Time: 11 a.m.
- Place: The Community Baptist Church, 224 First Street, Englewood, NJ
A visitation will be held at 9 a.m. prior to that service. Pastor Dr. Lester W. Taylor, Jr. will oversee the service.
A funeral was held for the driver in the crash, 24-year-old UGA staffer Chandler LeCroy, earlier this week in her hometown of Toccoa.
"Chandler loved Georgia Football more than anyone we knew," her obituary reads, noting her willingness to give so much of her time to recruiting for the team. That passion and love would extend to making cards for families, decorating at events, and planning recruiting events. "She had a way of making each and every prospect and their families feel like her own family."
Willock's family released a statement on Thursday as they continue to mourn the loss of their son:
"We would like to thank the city of Athens and the overwhelming support of the Georgia and New Jersey football community, fans, teammates, coaches and friends over the past few days. As there are no words that can be found to describe the grief we are experiencing with our loss, the support of all those who have said kind words and shared loving memories of Devin has helped us during this time.
"What we would like everyone to know is that Devin was more than just a football player. He was a trusted friend, a supportive and loving brother, a dedicated student and a loving son. Devin's infectious personality and loving smile is one that no one who met or saw him will ever forget.
"He was a young man that was not driven solely by football. He was driven by his love of others and his desire to fulfill his future. He is someone that we know people who have met him will never forget, not because of this tragedy but because of the positive experiences, influence and interactions they had with him. To know Devin simply was to love him, and being the amazing young man that he was, Devin gave nothing but love and positivity to those around him.
"We also ask that you keep Chandler LeCroy's family in your thoughts and prayers, along with Warren McClendon and Tori Bowles, that they may be fully healed.
"Although we will never be able to truly get over this moment, your prayers, thoughts and memories of Devin continue to give us strength during this time. Thank you."