Mark Darius Slater, age 55, of Clement Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, departed this life on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he moved to Springfield at the tender age of 3 years old and became a lifelong resident. He was educated through the Springfield Public Schools, attending Balliet Elementary School and Duggan Junior High School. In 1982, he graduated from Springfield Technical High School, where he was a member of the varsity basketball team. He was a member of the Obie Knox Lodge of Elks in Holyoke, MA. Mark was disabled from his last employer, CSX railroad, where he was a railroad conductor. Mark had also worked several other jobs including First Student, PVTA, DPW, and private limousine driver for Peter Picknelly. Better known as “Slate-Rock”, Mark was a true lover of Music, especially P-Funk. He enjoyed spinning his old school albums and reminiscing about growing up in his childhood neighborhood of Suffolk Street. Mark had a close relationship with his cousin, Johnathan “John John” of California and his late Uncle Dennis “Bone”.
Mark is survived by his parents, Barbara (McCullough) Slater and Samuel Slater of Springfield; his children, Elijah Washington of Springfield and Marquia, Mark Darius Jr., and Samir, all of Georgia; his only sibling, Alanna (and husband, Ronald) Baker of Springfield; and nephews, Kyle Parks and Roland Baker Jr., both of Springfield. He also leaves his very loving close knit family members including his aunts, Patricia Roger, Beulah Davis, Sandra McCullough, and Ethel (and James) Everett, all of Springfield; uncles, Larry (and Jackie) McCullough of Maryland, Kenny (and Kathy) Timothy, Anthony (and Maria), Dwayne (and Dawn) Burge, and Willie Reed, all of Springfield, and Robert Reed of Chicago, Illinois; and many cousins, other relatives and friends to mourn his passing. Funeral services were private
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