Dejuan Niquita Hilson

DeJuan Niquita Hilson, a loving and devoted son, passed away on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, in Tallahassee, FL.  He was the second son born to the late Larry E. Hilson and Theresa  H. Hawkins in Albany, GA, on January 25, 1974.  His father who raised him, Norton D. Hawkins, and his sister LaTanya Love-Adams preceded him in death.  During his adulthood, DeJuan was blessed with another special woman in his life, whom he affectionately called “Mama Glo,” Gloria Curry. DeJuan attended schools in Florida and Georgia, but graduated from FAMU High School in 1992. He was president of his senior class.  Upon graduation, he enrolled in Florida A & M University in the Business Administration Program. He was a member of Alpha Phi Omega.   During his tenure at FAMU, DeJuan was a proud member of the world-renowned Marching “100” band.  While in the Marching “100,” he played the trumpet, an instrument he learned to play in 5th grade and continued to play throughout high school. Later, as an adult, his cousin Michael taught him to play the bass guitar, which he developed a genuine love for. Afterwards, along with his brother Lawrence and cousin Michael, he played in the local band “Smoke” throughout the Tallahassee community.

While at FAMU, he was afforded the opportunity to work as an Accountant I with the State of Florida.  Later, he received an Associate of Arts degree from Tallahassee Community College. DeJuan always exhibited a profound love for family, music, football, and people, in general.  He never missed family gatherings or FSU football and always loved George Clinton’s music. As an avid FSU football fan, he and his mother spent many days cheering for the televised FSU football games together!  It would literally ruined his day if the team lost. He was an extremely devoted son. Since the pandemic, he did all of the shopping for his mom to help protect her from COVID. And during a recent breakthrough case of COVID, he telephone only and his bedroom window. He was fully vaccinated and received his booster the day he died. His beautiful smile and friendly personality often attracted people to him and made people in his neighborhood receptive to his friendly demeanor whenever he greeted them. In 2012, DeJuan, also known as Azriel Ben Yisrael, committed to the Hebrew Israelite culture, where he confirmed his belief in the Creator and in the resurrection. DeJuan leaves to cherish his memories: a loving, devoted mother, Theresa (Terri) H. Hawkins; two sisters, Cheryl Adams (Sherrod) Atlanta, GA, and Angela Jackson (Derrick) Quincy, FL; four brothers, Lawrence Hilson (Ahzriehlah), Cameron Hawkins, and Dexter Curry, Tallahassee, FL, and Kerry Cotton, Bradenton, FL; god sisters, Dr. Kendra Bailey, Rockledge, FL, and Teslie Collier (Emory) Atlanta, GA; aunts and uncles, Claire Oliver (Lawrence) Philadelphia, PA, Emily Hamilton (Bill) Casselberry, FL, aunt/godmother, Rosette Brown, Rockledge, FL; Mazie Wilson (Nathan), Thomasville, GA, Rene Ash and Annie C. Hawkins-Bryant, Tallahassee, FL, Dr. Weyman F. Patterson, Atlanta, GA, Kenneth Hamilton, Lynchburg, VA, Charles Hilson (Betty) Houston, TX, Weldon Hawkins (Bonnie) Wakulla, FL, and a host of nieces, cousins, classmates and “Smoke” band members.