A Sussex County woman who was one of three people killed last week in a fiery crash on Interstate 80 in Morris County was remembered over the weekend as a loyal and kind person who dreamed of becoming a rap or hip-hop artist.
Jalen Davis, of Stanhope, who turned 20 two weeks before the crash, died early Friday near exit 45 in Parsippany in a crash involving three vehicles. Davis had recently returned to New Jersey with hopes a record label would sign her, her family said.
“Jalen was a very free spirit, very kind. Just opened her heart to everyone,” her mother, JoAnn Merritt, told NJ Advance Media. “She always saw good, never the bad. She was loyal to a fault (and) so loved by everyone.”
Davis was one of six children and she attended schools in New Jersey before moving to Georgia after finishing seventh grade in 2013.
She played basketball and field hockey and later studied sports management at Georgia Southern University before moving back to the Garden State last April to focus on her musical career.
Her family said Davis had a show in Elizabeth scheduled for the evening she died. Other shows were planned for New York City, her family said, adding that Davis hoped to be signed to a record label.
“She loved Jersey club music. She was going to make her own platform,” said her sister, Kiyana Davis. “She always told me, sis, you’ve taken care of me so many times. When I make it big, you’re going to be taken care of.”
Jalen Davis paid her bills by working as a driver for DoorDash, had recently bought a new car and planned to move into her own apartment soon, her family said.
She had also worked at County College of Morris in a camp for kids, where she broke her foot.
“She really loved that job though, because it was not routine. Jalen hated routine. She wanted every day to be different,” JoAnn Merritt said.
Services are scheduled in the coming weeks in New Jersey and Georgia, her family said. In the meantime, a Fundly page has been created to help the family with funeral expenses.
A second person killed in the crash, Julia Wells, of Mine Hill, worked at a hair salon and was a friend of Davis. A GoFundMe page has been setup to help pay for her funeral.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has yet to name the third person who died in the wreck or provide additional details about the cause.
Julia Wells, of Mine Hill, was one of the victims in a fatal car crash on Interstate 80 in Morris County Friday morning.Courtesy of Amber Brianne Sweedy
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.