Carmella Wallace is the mother of Jarad Anthony Higgins popularly known as Juice WRLD. Juice WRLD was an American rapper, songwriter, and singer who was born on the 2nd of December 1998 and died on the 8th of December 2019.
Carmella has always played instrumental parts in his music career, and even after his death, she still tries to preserve his legacy.
Interesting Facts To Know About Carmella Wallace
1. She Was A Single Parent
Carmella raised Juice and his older brother as a single parent after she divorced their father in the early 2000s. Although the year she had her first son is not known, it is known that by 1998, she bore her second son, Juice WRLD.
It was 3 years after the birth of her second child that her husband left her and she raised the boys alone. She spent the early formative years of the boys’ lives in Calumet Park, Chicago, Illinois but they later moved to Homewood.
2. She Was Very Close To Her Son, Juice WRLD
Carmella Wallace was very close to her little boy, Jarad, as she always tried to avail herself for whenever he needed her. While he was going through anxiety and depression, Juice was able to speak to his mum about it.
Carmella tried to encourage her son to overcome his anxiety and substance abuse by listening to him, helping him to proffer solutions as well as encouraging him to seek counseling. From his childhood, Carmela built a connection with her son and she was happy he could talk to her whenever he needed to.
3. She Was Initially Skeptical About Her Son’s Career Path
Being a devout and conservative Christian woman, Carmella did not encourage her kids to listen to Hip-hop songs. She was against the lifestyle and prohibited them from listening to the genre. However, her kids were exposed to rock and pop music through video games and as they grew, their exposure widened.
Although she also encouraged her kids to learn how to play musical instruments from a young age, she wasn’t quite uncomfortable when her second son became too immersed in music. Juice WRLD became very passionate about music that his school teachers complained to her about the distraction it caused.
As a result of the brewing passion, she eventually had to reach a compromise with Jarad. She agreed to let him take a year after high school to focus on music. This he did and the result is the fame and recognition he amassed throughout his career.
4. She Left Her Job To Become Juice WRLD’s Representative
When Juice WRLD’s career began to peak, Carmella had to leave her job in quality management to join his team. She began to represent her son and as such was closer to him and watched him do what he loved to do. She watched her son’s fame grow as he recorded music after music wherever he was. He loved to spend time in the studio creating beautiful songs and she encouraged him as much as she could with words and her presence and support.
5. Carmella Wallace Launched An Organization In Memory Of Her Late Son
Ms. Carmella Wallace launched an organization called ‘Live Free999’ in 2020, a year after Juice WRLD’s death. The organization was launched in memory of her son, Jarad Anthony Higgins popular as Juice WRLD who died from a seizure after serially abusing prescription drugs. However, throughout his life, he battled with substance abuse and anxiety.
This organization was launched in order to support programs that provide preventive measures as well as present positive means to address mental health. The organization aims to help both those battling substance dependency and their loved ones.
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6. How She Dealt With Her Son’s Passing
Ms. Wallace had to deal with the untimely death of her second son, Juice WRLD the best way she thought she could. Although it was devastating, she nurses the pain while trying to make a change. She opens up about how she had a series of conversations with him while trying to help him overcome it.
During his lifetime, Juice was quite vocal about his substance dependency and how he wished to stop. He included lines depicting this battle in his songs and fans who faced similar struggles could relate. Similarly, his mother remains vocal about it. She talks about what her son passed through as he became addicted to drugs.
She aims at helping young people see that there are other ways to overcome depression and anxiety other than sticking to drugs and being dependent on substances. While doing this, she hopes that discussions about mental health can be normalized in black communities.
7. After The Death Of Her Son, She Lost A Grand-child Too
After the passing of her son, Carmella Wallace also lost a grandchild who was to be Juice WRLD’s heir. The late rapper’s girlfriend, Ally Lotti was reportedly pregnant at the time of the rapper’s demise. However, she lost the baby due to stress and the shock of her boyfriend’s death.
