Darlene Hoskins

Darlene was born on March 31st, 1970 in Louisville, Kentucky to Bertha Hoskins-Wiley and Walter Hoskins. Bertha moved to Seattle with her four children in 1972 and they lived a short time in the Central District. They eventually moved to the Montlake neighborhood where Darlene was raised for the remainder of her childhood into her young adult years.

Darlene attended Greenlake Elementary, Meany Middle School and Roosevelt High School. Darlene was a phenomenal basketball player. She started playing basketball in elementary and played on AAU Teams during middle school. She played on the girl’s varsity basketball team for Roosevelt High School from her freshmen to senior year. Darlene received a full ride basketball scholarship from Langston University in Langston Oklahoma. She played on the Langston University women’s basketball team for all four years. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Langston University in 1993. Darlene started working for Griffin Memorial Hospital Oklahoma Mental Health Center in Norman Oklahoma after she graduated from college. She moved back to Seattle and worked for the City of Seattle Park and Recreation, Seattle School District and the Central Area Motivation Program.

Darlene had a deep passion for basketball. She continued to play basketball after graduating from college, playing in various adult leagues and participating in several tournaments. Darlene also coached basketball; she coached high school girls at Franklin Highschool and an AAU Middle School Boys Team called Kent Flight, she was known to her players as “Coach Dee.”

Darlene was known to bring everyone together during the holidays and special occasions as she loved to cook. She cared deeply for her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Darlene loved to fish and enjoyed taking family trips to Moses Lake. She loved to sing and listening to music. Darlene had a magnetic, warm, and positive presence that naturally lifted the mood of everyone around her. She was funny, determined, protective, giving and had a no nonsense personality. Darlene touched so many people, she was one of a kind, she will be truly missed. An angel has gained her wings.

Darlene was preceded in death by her mother, Bertha Hoskins-Wiley, father, Walter Hoskins, step-father, Prentis H Wiley, sister, Sandra M Hoskins and nephew, Ezekiel Hoskins. She is survived by her daughters, Brianna Hoskins (Adrian Foster), Nhajae Hoskins (Trey), son, Nhajon Hoskins (Mina), grandchildren, Uzziah Foster and Elianna Hoskins; sisters, Christine Wiley (Lontrell Hughes), Janette Hoskins, brother, Ernest Hoskins (Kelly Hoskins) and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

I Miss You Sister

I thought of you with love today,

but that is nothing new.

I thought about you yesterday and

days before that, too.

I think of you in silence,

I often speak your name.

All I have are memories and

your picture in a frame.

Your memory is my keepsake

with which I’ll never part.

God has you in his keeping,

I have you in my heart.