Spring Hill, Tennessee is grieving the loss of Bexley Rose Hiler, a 10 year old Battle Creek Middle School student and talented young softball player whose death has shaken her school, her team and the wider community.
Bexley passed away on May 26, 2026, leaving behind a family, teammates and classmates who are now holding tightly to the memories she made in her short life.
Her celebration of life service was held on May 31 at Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home, where friends and family gathered to honor a little girl many said brought warmth and energy everywhere she went.
Bexley was deeply connected to sports from a young age. She played travel softball as a catcher, competed with the Bethesda Bombers, and previously played with the Spring Hill Impact Softball program.
She was also part of the Spring Hill Little League Softball team that won the 8U State Championship.
Her family and coaches said she loved being on the field and worked hard at every part of the game.
She was known in the softball world as Coach Bex, a nickname that reflected how much she cared about her teammates.
According to her obituary, she made sure everyone was trained and had the heart of the game just like she did. Her number, 12, is now being remembered as part of her legacy.
Bexley’s coaches and teammates described her as one of the sweetest souls around. People around the team said she had a smile that lit up every room and a personality that made her impossible not to notice.
She was the kind of child who stood out not by demanding attention, but by the kindness and joy she carried with her.
The loss reached Battle Creek Middle School quickly. Principal Angela Roa sent a message to families letting them know the death would have a significant impact on the school community.
Counselors were made available for students who needed help working through the grief. Roa also extended condolences directly to Bexley’s family and to her brother, Jaxon.
The impact could already be felt Monday night at the Spring Hill Little League Baseball Complex in Battle Creek, where the softball field filled with people for a prayer vigil in Bexley’s honor. It was not a game night. It was a night for families, teammates and neighbors to come together and remember a little girl who meant so much to so many.
One community member wrote, “The softball community mourns the loss of a wonderful and spirited young lady.”
Another said, “Praying for Rowan and Bexley’s family and friends.” A third wrote, “It’s so hard to watch our babies grieve.”
Those messages reflected the heartbreak spreading across the area as people tried to support one another through the loss.
Families in the community also organized a Meal Train to help the Hiler family in the days ahead, offering food and practical support while they navigate a loss no parent ever wants to face.
Bexley is survived by her parents, Nathan “Nate” and Sarah Burkhart Hiler; her brother Jaxon; her sisters; her grandparents; and many other loved ones who say her smile, her love for softball and her devotion to her family will never be forgotten.
She was small in years, but not in impact. In Spring Hill, Bexley Hiler is being remembered as a daughter, sister, teammate and friend whose presence brought light to the people around her. Her number 12 now carries the weight of memory, love and a legacy far bigger than her age.
