NEWTON, Texas — The Jasper and Newton communities are mourning the loss of a 21-year-old woman that lost her life in an ATV accident Sunday night.
Jalia Franklin may have lived in Jasper, but the Newton community is also mourning the loss of this young woman.
Franklin starred in track at Newton High School.
Jonathan Kalafatis graduated from Newton High School at the same time Franklin did.
He told me he didn't know her personally during those four years, but they did share one thing.
On signing day in 2017, both Kalafatis and Franklin signed their letters of intent.
Franklin received a track scholarship to Cowley College in Kansas.
She later transferred to Jarvis Christian College.
He says hearing about her death was one of the hardest things he'd ever experienced.