Obituary of Elexus Destiny Hillsman

Elexus “Lay” Destiny Hillsman, 16, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 2, 2017. She was born October 17, 2000 in Kalamazoo, MI to Anthony and Patrice Hillsman. Lay confessed Christ and was baptized at the age of 10 as a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

She enjoyed playing sports and during middle school ran track, played volleyball, and basketball. Lay attended Kalamazoo Central and Loy Norrix High Schools. She was a member of the volleyball team at Loy Norrix before transferring to Phoenix High School where she graduated in 2017 at age 16. She was a youth praise dancer at Mt. Zion Baptist Church and was employed as a crew member at Burger King. She was enrolled at Kalamazoo Valley Community College with plans to earn a degree in Nursing toward a future career in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Lay was a charismatic, energetic, and intelligent young lady who many saw as a high achiever and fast learner. She enjoyed life and her infectious smile and bold confidence enabled her to easily make friends. Her love for cosmetology led her to constantly experiment with unique hair styles, creative nail designs, and to even formulate original lip gloss to keep her lips, in her words, “Popping.”

Elexus was preceded in death by her great grandparents, Ethel Hillsman, and Harold and Bernice Gamble; grandfather, Ron Wyatt; great aunts, Ernestine Hillsman and Paula McCorgo; uncle, Blair Kelly; aunt, Destiny Johnson; cousin, Samuel Hegler, Jr.; and special friend, Jaela Jordan.

She leaves to cherish her memory her parents, Anthony and Patrice Hillsman; siblings, Anthony Hillsman Jr., Telarius Glover, Jelani Martin, Shadae Hillsman, and SayVone Hillsman; grandparents, Debra Kelly, Diane Hillsman, and George (Arlean) Rose; Big Sister Stephanie (Joe) Bragg; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.