Missouri State’s Todric McGee Lost His Mother to a Brain Aneurysm Before His Passing
During the last year of his life, Missouri State football player Todric McGee devoted significant time to caring for his cherished mother, Stephanie.
McGee passed away on Saturday, April 19, due to injuries sustained at his home in Springfield, Missouri. According to authorities, the cause of death was a “possible accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.” He was only 21 years old.
Almost a year prior, McGee’s mother, Stephanie Pope, experienced a brain aneurysm that necessitated surgery and extensive rehabilitation, as reported by the Springfield News-Leader. McGee played a key role in setting up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover their medical expenses, which successfully raised nearly $5,000.
“He was a 20-, 21-year-old kid who saw his mom in a different light,” Steve Martin, McGee’s head football coach during high school at Wichita Northwest, commented in a story by the News-Leader published on April 21. “To see him be selfless and want to support his mom shows the type of upbringing he had. They were very close. Todric didn’t lose any of that, and he grew to appreciate everything Stephanie did for him even more.”
Following her son’s tragic passing, Pope shared insights about McGee’s state of mind before his unexpected death.
“He wasn’t depressed, and there were no mental health issues that led to this tragedy,” she told KYTV-TV Springfield in an article published on Monday. “It’s simply a tragic accident, and I want people to understand that he was a good kid.”
Thalia Pope, McGee’s older sister who played basketball at both the University of Houston and the University of Texas at Arlington, reminisced about how her brother united the family during difficult times.
“He was always present and meant everything to us,” she shared with KYTV. “He was the sibling I needed.”
McGee’s former high school teammate, Zaire Adkins, reflected on the strong bond between McGee and his mother, noting how it extended to his group of friends.
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“From the moment I met him, it was clear how much he loved his mom,” Adkins expressed to the News-Leader. “She was always ensuring he was well taken care of and that we all were doing alright.”
Former Missouri State head football coach Bobby Petrino remembered McGee, a safety, as a player with a desire to tackle anyone in his path.
“We never had any issues with him whatsoever,” Petrino remarked to the News-Leader. “He was always dependable. That solid nature made him both a remarkable player and a remarkable person.”
McGee was set to graduate from Missouri State in December with a degree in psychology and a minor in exercise science.
