Carl L. Lassiter III

Carl Lemuel Lassiter, III was born on August 26, 1980 to the parents of Carl L. Lassiter, Jr. and Coleen (Harris) Lassiter in Racine, Wisconsin. Carl III was the youngest of two children. At age 37 he passed away on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at the University of Wisconsin Health Hospital after receiving a lung transplant, due to complications from a disease (Sarcoidosis).

He is survived by his mother, Coleen; his father, Carl, Jr.; his sister, Carmen (Lassiter) Ayers; his brother-in-law, Selwyn Ayers, Jr.; and his niece Celeste Ayers. He is also survived by Uncles Paul (Mae Thelma) Harris, Grenada, MS; Terry (Jessie) Harris, Sr., Union Grove, WI; Craig (Joyce) Harris, Coffeeville, MS; Curtis (Cynthia) Lassiter, Sr., Williamsburg, VA; Ronald (Francine) Lassiter, Sr., Williamsburg, VA; William (Gwen) Lassiter, Newport News, VA; and Aunt Mary V. Lassiter, Williamsburg, VA; and a host of other relatives and friends. Carl was preceded in death by both his maternal grandparents, Robert (Ouida) Harris, Coffeeville, MS; and his paternal grandparents, Carl Lassiter, Sr., Williamsburg, VA; and Mary Lassiter White, Williamsburg, VA; as well as several other relatives.

At an early age, Carl accepted Christ and became a member of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church (PMBC) Racine, WI. Carl was an active member of the youth Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Carl also served as PMBC’s Assistant Church Clerk.

Carl was a Life Member of the Racine WI Branch NAACP. He also participated in several local political election campaigns as a volunteer. Carl was formerly a member of the National Association of Black Accountants Milwaukee Chapter.

Carl attended school in Racine Unified School District, graduating from Park High School in 1998. He earned his B.S. Finance degree from Hampton University (Hampton, VA) in 2003. He received his Masters of Business Administration Degree (emphasis Accounting) in 2006 from the University of the District of Columbia.

Carl had a career in finance and accounting throughout his adult life. He worked for U.S. Bank in Milwaukee, WI as a Securities Operations Specialist before becoming an Auditor II with the Department of Audits in Baltimore, MD. While in Baltimore Carl also volunteered with the Maryland Defense Force (Finance Corps.) holding the position of Captain. When Carl was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis he was forced to return to Wisconsin where he held a position as an Accountant with Associated Catholic Charities until he was too ill to continue working.

In addition to his background in finance and accounting Carl had love for the arts. Carl was an avid painter, sketch artist and dancer. Carl was in the process of creating a graphic novel entitled “The Sovereigns” chronicling a founding family of slaves controlling the plantation owners behind the scenes. Carl was very intrigued by computer coding and emphasized his area of study on C++. He also played various gaming systems. As a child Carl excelled in multiple sports such as football, soccer, karate and track. He also played the Alto Saxophone throughout Middle and High School participating with the Lighthouse Brigade.

Carl was a loyal friend who had an amazing sense of humor. He enjoyed listening to a variety of music from jazz to his favorite artist Nas. Carl loved his family especially his niece Celeste who he adoringly referred to as his “little homie” and “baby girl.”

Carl had the benefit of receiving an organ donation for his right lung. Carl also wanted to give the gift of life to others so he became an organ donor as well. In his passing, he gave the gift of life to several individuals. Carl would ask that you all consider being an organ donor as well.

Funeral services will be held at Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home, 803 Main St., Sunday, October 1, 2017, 3:00 P.M. with Reverend James Campbell Jr. officiating. Private interment will be held at Graceland Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet Sunday prior to the service 2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dr. Iftekhar Bader at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare (Ascenion) and the University of WI (Madison) Health Transplant Program Lung Transplant Team especially doctors Nilto De Oliveira and Richard Cornwell for their loving and compassionate care.