J. Dezmond Waters III

He was born in Jacksonville to Martina Bell Jones and James Dezmond Waters Jr. He was older brother to Angela Waters and they spent their childhood in Murray Hill, moving to Atlantic Beach in June 1956. He attended St. Paul's Catholic, Riverside and Fletcher High School. After graduating from Belmont Abby College in Charlotte, NC he returned home to Jacksonville and taught at Bishop Kenny High School and Fletcher High School. He received his Masters in Teaching from Jacksonville University in 1966. And after attending both the University of Florida and The University of Guadalajara, Mexico, he settled on Florida State University where he finsihed four years of doctoral studies in Humanities. During that time he was fortunate to study at the University's Florence, Italy campus, an adventure that he was able to share with his wife, that would influence all of his adult life.

At one of the many parties he would enjoy hosting, Dezmond met his future wife Janice, the identical twin sister of one of his father's nurses. They were married on August 9, 1969. After their return from Tallahassee and Florence, they settled in Jacksonville to continue their teaching careers. Whether teaching Latin, Humanities, World History, Spanish, English or European History, Dezmond brought his love of History, Art, Culture and Travel alive for his students. One of his greatest pleasures in life was getting the occasional postcard from a former student exclaiming that they had finally seen Brunelleschi's doors in person! A dedicated teacher, Dezmond found great satisfaction in making a difference in his students' lives and exposing them all to the world beyond their neighborhood.

Dezmond and Janice raised their two children, Blythe and Dez in Atlantic Beach along with their extended family and menagerie. Locals will probably remember Dezmond's “duck yard” fondly as it was much closer than Jarboe park for an afternoon sharing of breadcrumbs with the ducks. As Atlantic Beach grew from a sleepy little seaside town with dirt roads into the beautiful community it is today, Dezmond spent much of his free time tending his gardens and serving on the Atlantic Beach City Commission. He took great pride in his service to his community and his legacy survives through his work with the the North Duval Beaches Association, Town Center and the Northeast Florida League of Cities. His family enjoys the view from Dutton Island Park and hopes that many others will enjoy the parks and wild space he worked so hard to improve and preserve.

Dezmond is survived by his wife Janice to whom he was married 41 years; his daughter Blythe who he lived to see open her own Veterinary Practice in Ponte Vedra Beach this year; his son Dezmond who returned to Atlantic Beach this year to spend time with his father, work in the garden and enjoy the luxury of working from home; his sister Angela who is also a dedicated life long teacher in Duval County and a menagerie of dogs and cats, who are considered 4 legged members of the family. He was fortunate to live in the comraderie of his sister-in-law and husband, Joyce and Dick Goodman, brother-in-law, John Harris, brother-in-law and wife, Dale and Gill Bodziony, neice, Tiffany Frohwein and a host of neices, nephews and grand neices and nephews.

A viewing and memorial will be held at Hardage Giddens Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 20. 2011. Visitation will begin at 3PM and Memorial Service will begin at 4PM. There will be a celebration of Dezmond's life to follow at the Waters' home. Donations may be made in Dezmond's name to the City of Atlantic Beach Parks and Recreation for a memorial park in his name.