When Sonya Curry – the mother of Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry – revealed that her mother, Candy Wyms Adams had died on July 28, 2025, at age 76, the Curry family entered a period of profound sorrow.
In her heartfelt Instagram tribute about Candy – affectionately known as “Granny Candy” or “Rose” – Sonya wrote: “Heaven gained an angel, and we lost our heart. Today we say goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother. A woman who taught us to love fiercely, laugh often, and keep family at the center of everything.
“Her love lives on in every hug we give, every story we tell, and every lesson she left us with. As Luther said, ‘A house is not a home when there’s no one there to hold you tight.’ You were our home and now your love lives in all of us. Rest easy now, we’ll carry you with us, always. I love you Mommy.”
Her words captured the depth of the loss and the central role Candy played in shaping the family’s foundation.
Loss redirects Curry’s priorities
Stephen Curry had already hinted at emotional challenges when he posted on his 14th wedding anniversary: “Life has been throwing some jabs recently but it’s always a reminder that I got my backbone and my rock with me through it all!”
Though he refrained from naming his grandmother in that post, her passing likely added weight to those recent struggles.
In the aftermath, Steph appears to have drawn even closer to his wife Ayesha and their three children – Riley, Ryan, and Canon – using their family unity as an anchor in a period of grief.
Whether they’re spending time together at the beach or celebrating milestones at home, each moment serves as solace and strength amid the pain.
For Sonya, grief isn’t just mourning – it’s also honoring a legacy. Candy had been the matriarch whose Christian faith and life philosophy guided generations.
Sonya’s earlier exhortation to her followers to “LOVE FIERCELY” now resonates with bittersweet clarity: she urged everyone to reach out, share intentional time, and let love be seen, heard, and felt. Following that advice now, Sonya publicly encouraged intentional presence with loved ones during her mother’s final days, which speaks to the depths of affection they shared.
Throughout their lives, the Currys have woven faith into their identity. Sonya, an educator and author of the 2022 memoir Fierce Love, instilled in her children the importance of service, discipline, and unconditional love. Candy Wyms Adams embodied all of this.
She was remembered as a devoted seamstress and community force. Sonya described her as the person who “taught us to love fiercely, laugh often, and keep family at the center of everything.”
In Steph’s 2022 documentary ‘Underrated’, viewers saw Candy adamantly defend her grandson’s potential long before NBA stardom. She confronted doubters at games, saying she would “bust you in your mouth” if anyone demeaned Steph when he was still a youth player. Her fierce protection helped fuel his confidence.
Curry family shows faith and resilience
This mix of emotional support, spiritual grounding, and structural strength now serves as a kind of family compass – helping them navigate without Candy’s physical presence but honoring her influence every day.
Now more than ever, Steph is leaning into his role as husband and father. His Instagram acknowledgment of Sonya’s tribute – commenting simply “GG” – underscores his understated mourning and solidarity.
His sister Sydel responded by saying “We love you granny,” and shared memories in tribute. Seth and others in the family have also expressed their grief, underscoring the deep bond shared across generations.
Within their circle, Seth, Sydel, Sonya, Steph, and Ayesha model quiet strength. They demonstrate how grief can sharpen bonds – not unravel them. For Steph, clinging closer to his immediate family reflects more than coping: it’s choosing connection over distraction, compassion over retreat, and presence over escape.
While the NBA world extends condolences and fans share messages of support, the Curry family appears to draw inward, honoring Candy Adams through remembrance and intentional togetherness. In a season of sorrow, Steph has reaffirmed what truly matters: love, family, faith, and legacy.
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