Funeral arrangements have been announced for MJ Daniels, a Southern Miss football player shot and killed this week.
Daniels, a Lucedale native, will be honored at his alma mater of George County High School on Saturday, June 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Following visitation, Daniels’ family will lay him to rest at Merrill Cemetery in Lucedale.
“MJ had a contagious smile that could brighten anyone’s day,” Daniels’ obituary reads. “His charismatic personality was the reason there was never a dull moment in his presence.”
Daniels, who started his collegiate career at Ole Miss before transferring to Southern Miss, was killed on Tuesday outside the Ivy Row apartment complex in Hattiesburg. He was just 21 years old. On Friday, police confirmed three teenagers had been arrested and charged with his murder: Samir Green, 16, Allen Marcus Gardner, 17, and Orlando May, 18. No motive has been released as Daniels’ family maintains he was asleep in his car when killed.
Daniels, a four-star defensive back out of high school, registered 29 tackles with a team-high three interceptions in 2023.