Derrick Hilton death: Socastee high school basketball coach dies after a long battle with cancer

Derrick Hilton cause of death. (Source: Facebook)

Derrick Hilton, popularly known as Senior Hilton, the basketball coach at Socastee High School, passed away. He is regarded as being so well-liked by the community because of his optimistic outlook and dedication to his teammates. His loss has crushed his family, friends, and coworkers, and he will be missed. Keep reading to know more about Derrick Hilton and his cause of death in detail.

Who was Derrick Hilton?

Coach Derrick Hilton has spent many years serving with the Socastee High School community, first as a student, then as a coach, and most recently as a guidance counsellor.

Coach Hilton is the mascot of the Socastee High School community. He has been ever since he attended this university and graduated in 1998.

When he was a student at Socastee, Hilton used to play basketball for them. Hilton participated in the 1998 state championship game while playing for Dan D’Antoni.

Coach Hilton attended Coker College to earn a degree that would enable him to go back to his hometown and give something back to the area that he has unconditionally loved for much of his life and the place that he calls home.

Coach Hilton has dedicated the most of his life to serving Brave Nation. From guiding his students through their academic decisions and life’s challenges to developing his athletes into young men. He has supported not just his students but also their families.

He has previously coached at Loris and St. James. He has worked as Socastee’s assistant coach for the last nine years.

He is the embodiment of all the wonderful that Socastee offers since he embodies what they actually have. Coach Hilton is a loving father of 3. He has an unfathomable amount of love and devotion for his kids. He is a beloved friend, a spouse, a son, a brother, and an uncle.

How did Derrick Hilton die?

Derrick Hilton, a guidance counsellor and Socastee High School’s men’s varsity basketball coach, has passed away.

Friends of Derrick Hilton who he had previously worked with shared the news of his demise online.

His Friend Mike Fitzpatrick wrote:

“Lost a great man and Socastee Brave! Senior Hilton we always had fun clowning around when I was in school. I wasn’t a basketball player but you always took the time to stop and talk to me anytime you saw me in the hallways and I’ll never forget that. Prayers to Coach’s wife Malia Bell-Hilton and kids. I know that they meant so much to him. #onceabravealwaysabrave”

His another friend Lakesha Holmes wrote:

“This is just sad to wake up and see rip to a good friend. ..he was a lovely friend a husband to the most beautiful woman Malia Bell-Hilton and a great Father to his kids my heart goes out for them ..he was a awesome coach he would drop everything to help his student my heart goes out to the brave family also..couch Senior Hilton u truly be miss “

Derrick Hilton cause of death

We regret to have to let you know that Coach Derrick Hilton died after a battle with renal cancer.

Derrick Hilton, a Socastee High School guidance counsellor and head coach of the men’s varsity basketball team, received a stage four renal cancer diagnosis in October 2022.

Hilton decided to visit the doctor after he became a little short-winded, short of breath, and everything else that went along with it. Cancer progressed to his hips and lungs in stage 4.

The issues persisted, and only a few weeks later, in October 2022, Hilton received a stage 4 renal cancer diagnosis.

After finding about the diagnosis, Hilton said,

“The first thing that I thought about was my children, my wife Malia,”

“My job, the students that I work with and then, not even gonna lie, basketball was one of the first things that came to mind just because it was right getting close to the season.”

“Braves don’t fight alone”

After the men’s varsity basketball coach received a stage four renal cancer diagnosis just a few months ago, the phrase “Braves don’t fight alone” quickly gained support in their neighborhood.

Melissa Welch, a longtime friend and coworker, set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his medical expenses.

Welch said,

“Someone who’s diagnosed with stage four renal cancer doesn’t look like Derrick Hilton,” 

“And doesn’t come and coach basketball and games and do as well as he’s doing right now, and I think that a lot of it has got to do with his heart of seeing the love and the fight that his community has for him. It’s making him fight really hard for us.”

Students and faculty sold bracelets, t-shirts, and baked items next to the GoFundMe Welch started which has raised over $30,000.

Jamie Barfield, the lead pastor at Palmetto Pointe Church, called Hilton on stage on Easter. After praying for him, they surprised him by giving him a check for $30,788 to cover his medical costs.

The amount of support Hilton received from his neighborhood made him feel emotional and he claimed that the kindness from the neighborhood, and his newfound religion have been what have been helping him get through this difficult period.

Hilton said,

“It’s been a journey, but again it’s something that I believe I’m gonna have to end up learning to live with day by day because I’m fighting for my family, fighting for my community, fighting for all the people that, again, let’s me know that I’m not in this alone.”

The coach constantly encouraged his team to live each day to the fullest and take use of the chances that have been provided.

Braves don’t fight alone bracelets. (Source: WPDE)

Derrick has been in the hospital for a week, his wife Malia Bell-Hilton posted on Facebook two days ago.

She said that He underwent a successful procedure that morning to place a tube into his heart sac and drain accumulated fluid that was exerting pressure on his heart.

She claimed that Coach Hilton was doing better and was in good hands, but he tragically passed away after a long battle with the illness.

Tributes to Derrick Hilton

Everyone, including friends and family, is currently exhausted from grieving for Coach Derrick Hilton, thinking about him, praying for his afterlife, and posting condolences on social media.

Tex Winter wrote: “I literally just woke up and the first thing I see is a cool guy has left us. The last 2 times we spoke face to face was at the Shoot Out in Georgetown and we ran into each other at Goose Creek Gym this past season. Both times we talked about basketball, but conversation ended on how good life was to us. The Coaches Brotherhood was hit with this one. My condolences to Coach Hilton family, Socastee High School Basketball, and Community Take Your Rest Senior Hilton 🪽🪽🪽”

Darwin Brown wrote: “Senior Hilton I didn’t wanna believe it. I know I didn’t get to see you much after I graduated. But you and coach Robinson taught me so much about basketball and I took those skills and developed my game from what y’all taught me. I’ll never forget going to Hawaii and you telling the people at the tattoo place that you were my dad so I could get tatted while I was there. Didn’t work but it was the thought that counted. You may have never knew this but you were always a role model to me. RIP coach. Once a brave Always a brave.”

One of the worst things anyone can go through in life is losing a loved one. Any journey must have a destination at the end. The person’s time on earth has regrettably come to an end now that they have died. We wish him eternal peace and send our thoughts and prayers to his loved ones, family, friends. May he rest in peace.

Kindly use the comment box below to honor the death of Coach Derrick Hilton by leaving a tribute.

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