Staten Hines

Staten Hines, 70, son of the late Pastor Joseph Nathan Lee Hines and Mrs. Flora Mae (Lloyd age 96) Hines transitioned to his heavenly home on Thursday, at 2:09 a.m., September 19, 2024 following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Staten was born in Benton Harbor MI on December 9, 1953. He was one of 12 children and the third oldest son to come from the blessed union. Staten accepted Christ as a young man at the Beautiful Gate Baptist Church under the late Pastor C.M. Jones. As a young boy, he excelled in sports as he followed similar footsteps of his older brother the late N.L Hines. He was a star football and baseball player throughout his High School and college careers.
As a young boy, Staten excelled in sports as he followed similar footsteps of his older brother, the late NL Hines. He attended Boyton (Bull Dogs) Elementary School, Benton Harbor Junior High and Benton Harbor High.
After graduating from Benton Harbor High School in 1971, he went on to continue his football career at Grand Rapids Community College as well as Northern Michigan University. On March 17, 1981, Staten entered the armed forces and served our country in the U. S. Army. He was stationed in Germany, where met and married Carmen Dorsh and began a family.
Staten honorably served in the U.S. Army for 20 years. Of the 20 years, he served in foreign service for 14 years, 11 months and 25 days, retiring May 31, 2001. Shortly after retiring, Staten and his family moved to Jackson MI. There Staten participated in coaching little league baseball and recreational football for youth. Staten was a sports fan and enjoyed various sports. Although baseball was likely Staten's favorite sport, football was a close second. Hence, he relished the opportunity to help children learn to play these sports at a high level. Staten was also a substitute teacher in Jackson county, and at his alma mater, Benton Harbor High School. He was known for his ability to get cooperation from uncooperative students. He retired from substitute teaching and coaching in 2014 when he became an Opa (grandfather). His favorite and most cherished title of his life.
As Opa, Staten spent the remainder of his days being the best grandfather to his grandchildren. He spent as much time with them as possible and filled his days with carpool pick-ups and drop-offs, play dates at the park, and school activities. He never missed a birthday, holiday, or graduation, etc. He loved to celebrate the grandkids.
Staten was comical and could tell old stories about growing up in Benton Harbor that could invoke tear- jerking, belly- hurting laughter. He loved his parents and his siblings. He took time to teach his younger siblings to play sports, ride bikes, and defend the Hines name. His advice was to swing for the fences, hit them low and rise up high, peddle fast and hard, and remove the shoe of a bigger boy you're fighting and bite his toe!
Staten was preceded in death by his father Pastor Joseph Nathan Lee Hines (age 78), his siblings N.L. Hines (age 71), Shirley Hines (age 3), Lee Nathan Hines (age six months), Rose Marie Hines (age 66); his maternal grandparents, Dan and O.C. Lloyd and paternal grandparents, Staten and Truelove Hines; uncles and aunts that helped rear him, uncles, Lee Dale Lloyd, Adell Lloyd, Doug Hines, Sam London, and Epson Johnson, Sr.; aunts, Rosie Glasper, Martha Brady, Alberta Buels, Ocsie, (Jackie), Truelove London, and Irene Johnson; a niece, Michquel Taylor-Oladipo; his cousins, James Johnson, Rosalyn London, Leon Lloyd Sr., Adell Lloyd, Davis Powell Lloyd, Renell Buels, and Dondrell Buels.
Staten leaves to cherish his memory his mother, Flora Mae Hines; his two sons Philip Hines and Mark Hines; three grandchildren, Jordynn Pitts, Jaida Pitts, and Muukimo Hines, a daughter in love, Shi'Andrea Pitts; his siblings, Daisy Hines, Eugene (Joyce) Hines, Pastor James Hines (Leontyne), and Steve Hines; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends and a very special Aunt, Doris Applewhite, with whom he lived while attending Grand Rapids Community College; and, a very special cousin/brother Epson Johnson.
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