Obituary

Obituary of Lafayette Joseph Waters III

Lafayette Joseph Waters III was born, following his Sister, Latonya, as their second child, on September 3, 1966 to his parents, Lafayette J. Waters Jr. and Zenobia Frazier Waters at St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was nicknamed from birth as “’Trouble”, not because he was any trouble, but be-cause, at that time, the song “Bridge over Troubled Waters” was a popular song written by Paul Simon.

   Lafayette attended Tulsa Public Schools (K through 12) and graduated from McClain High School, where he was a top drummer in the marching band.   After graduation in the fall of 1984, he matriculated to Langston University and attended there until 1987, where he majored in Criminal Justice, and again, he was part of the percussion group on the snare drum, of the Langston University’s marching band. After leaving Langston University, he spent a short time in Dallas, Texas….Returning to Oklahoma, where he began following his love of making and playing music, as far away as the South Pacific in such places as Taiwan and Guam in the Marianas Islands.    He was an esteemed member of bands, such as the Party Gras (like Mardi Gras) and with PPI (Party People Incorporated). The band traveled to Hong Kong, China in 2009 and from Taipei, Taiwan in 2009 to Bangkok, Thailand in 2013. Then back to Guam in 2015 and on to Tokyo, Japan that same year. Lafayette also vacationed with Rainy to Rome, Italy in 2016. Lafayette returned to Langston during the periods of 2009 to 2014.   Following in his Father’s footsteps, he also played with “Jazz” bands and orchestras at both institutions. So, whenever and wherever he could sit in with a group he did; he loved playing the drums.

   Music and computers were his life. Lafayette made contact with Jazz orchestras wherever he went and spent many hours designing computer programs where he marketed to software start-up firms.

  Modeling after his Uncle Harry, he went to work with the Airlines. Lafayette loved to travel, whether in the Continental United States or throughout the world. He worked for both American and United Airlines, which he used to visit many of the Waters’ family members, who were located in California, Arizona, Las Vegas, Texas, or any state where he found evidence of a connection to the Waters family.

    In the most recent years, he was employed by the United States Job Corps, where he supervised the young students.

   Lafayette is survived and will be missed by his daughters, Rainy of Tulsa, Oklahoma and London of Chicago, Illinois; a large number of very close relatives and many of his siblings, to include his Sister Latonia Waters of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sheila (Edward), Alexander of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania..

   Besides his parents, Lafayette Sr. and Zenobia Frazier-Waters, he was proceeded in death by Emmitt Palmer (Naomi) of Jacksonville, Florida and Theressa Hervey of Tulsa, Oklahoma..