Olubori "Olu" Morayonla Sholaja was born to Olayimika Sholaja and Deborah Sholaja April 5, 1972, at Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, KS.  He was a lifelong Kansas City, MO resident.

Olu was a product of the Kansas City, MO School District, graduating from Northeast High School in 1990.

He was a highly intelligent and energetic child, having started pre-school at the age of 3.  Everyone who encountered Olu from friends, family, and all of his teachers, felt that he was near genius in thought and mind.  Olu possessed a photographic memory where he could recite long Bible Verses without error. This memory served him well as a gifted musician; fluent in both the piano and organ, where Olu was able to play from memory complex classical pieces written by Chopin, Mozart, and Beethoven.  Olu started piano lessons at the age of 9 under the tutelage of Mr. Harrison Fry, an organist at Paseo Baptist Church and Mrs. S. Hill, a pianist and organist for Jamison Temple for many years. These two musicians inspired Olu, and he blossomed under their care and direction.  His love for classical music and his ability to play by ear, led Olu to play for various churches around Kansas City as a young teenager. The composition Fur Elise by Mozart was his favorite piano piece and he would play this in the evenings for his late maternal grandparents.

He received Christ at an early age at Paseo Baptist Church.  He was blessed by the late Rev. Charles Briscoe at 3 months of age and was baptized at age 8.

Olu was a jokester; always ready with a witty response.  As a free-spirited person, he wasn't inclined to worry, and found humor in almost all situations. He loved animals, especially dogs.  He once purchased a Rottweiler from Germany and named him "D-Bo".  His family was astounded but that was Olu.

Olu had many jobs throughout his life, securing very good positions.  His family always wondered how he landed all these opportunities due to his adventurous nature, but this was God's grace towards Olu, His way of always protecting him and smiling down on him. This son and brother will be greatly missed by his family due to his humorous personality, lively spirit, and his intellect that encouraged and revived our lives.

He is survived by: his son, Jordan Sholaja; father, Olayimika Sholaja; mother, Deborah Munson (Herman); sister, Oriyomi Richardson (Courtney); brother, Akinola Sholaja (Teneice), and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Services for Mr. Sholaja will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday, November 23, 2019, At Second Missionary Baptist Church Grandview, MO.  Friends may call from 9:00 A.M. until service time Saturday at the church.

Thoughtful care and services provided by E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc .