Jacqueline Towns, the mother of Karl-Anthony Towns, died on Monday from complications related to COVID-19. The Minnesota Timberwolves released a statement from a family spokesperson announcing her passing. She was 59 years old.
“The Towns family is deeply saddened by the premature death of Jacqueline Towns due to COVID-19 complications,” the statement says. “Jackie, as she was lovingly called by her family and friends, had been fighting against the virus for over a month before she passed away on April 13th.”
pic.twitter.com/vnKwFBNegn
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 13, 2020
Jackie embodied numerous roles to different individuals – she was a spouse, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. As the Towns family’s matriarch, she was a phenomenal pillar of strength; a passionate, caring, and exceedingly affectionate individual, leaving a lasting impression on everyone she crossed paths with. Her fervor was tangible and her irreplaceable energy will never be duplicated.
The Towns family deeply appreciates the tremendous love and support they’ve received in this challenging period. They wish to express their gratitude to the medical heroes at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and JFK Medical Center. These professionals tirelessly battled to save Jackie and assisted Karl Sr. in overcoming the identical virus that sadly claimed Jackie’s life.
The family is deeply distressed by their immense loss and kindly asks for privacy during this period of intense mourning.
The team issued the following statement from the Timberwolves:
The Timberwolves organization is deeply grieved about the demise of Jacqueline Towns, resulting from COVID-19 complications. During the more than four years she was with us, Jackie became a cherished part of our family. Her zest for life and love for her family were evident. As the biggest fan of Karl, Jackie was a constant source of positive energy for him. Our entire organization and Target Center staff adored her as she continually supported her son and the Timberwolves.
NEWS: Statement from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jacqueline Towns: pic.twitter.com/j6iSoaZvo0
— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) April 13, 2020
We are deeply grateful for the unity shown by The League, teams and players in their support of Jackie and Karl. Our NBA family’s solidarity is truly appreciated. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the medical staff who attended to Jackie during her illness. We also appreciate the support from Karl’s fans over the past month. In this challenging time, we express our profound condolences to Karl and his family.
Towns revealed on March 25 that his mother had been placed in a medically induced coma due to COVID-19 complications. At the time, he urged his followers to understand the “severity of what’s happening in the world right now.”
