A. Mark Slater
A. Mark Slater, 79, passed away December 17, 2020, after fighting the effects of dementia for several years. He was born April 1, 1941, in Norfolk, VA to the late Rev. Arnold Slater and Pauline Slater.
Mark graduated from City High School in 1961 where he enjoyed football and track. He attended MTSU but was soon ready to move back to Chattanooga to settle down and start a family and career. Although initially in banking, he was recruited by a family friend to work for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company thus beginning his life-long work in insurance. Mark excelled at Liberty Mutual. At a young age he become the Southeast regional sales leader and earned a promotion to sales manager in Atlanta, GA. After a couple of years in Atlanta, Mark missed his hometown and the excitement of building client relationships, so he returned to Chattanooga to start his own business and first insurance agency.
Mark's agency grew and ultimately merged with other agencies to form Sunbelt Insurance Group in 1984. He retired as President of Sunbelt in 2011. He had many accolades throughout his career and served in many industry roles including serving as President of the Professional Insurance Agents of Chattanooga and countless agency advisory councils for the insurance companies he represented. Early in his career he was an active member of the Chattanooga Jaycees and later the Hamilton Place Rotary Club. He loved business. He was an entrepreneur at heart and his many ventures included insurance, subdivision development, home building, a rental car company, and commercial real estate just to name a few. He had a reputation for being the person his partners, friends, family, and clients would turn to for advice and counsel in both good times and bad. His instincts and actions helped many people weather storms both personally and professionally, sometimes at a personal cost to himself.
But more than business, Mark loved his family and friends. He loved getting his family together whenever possible, especially at holidays. He was a true character who loved life and rarely met a stranger. He could not go anywhere in the city where he didn't know people. He was always up for adventure and fun. He was also not one to back away from a challenge. He drew on his independence, determination, and persistence to overcome life's obstacles. His life experiences and the stories that resulted, educated some and entertained many. Among his many non-business hobbies over the years were owning a few horses, spending time at the beach, boating, working in his yard, and coaching baseball. And then, there was golf. Mark enjoyed golf, played often, and was a member of Windstone Golf Club until his retirement.
His battle with vascular dementia changed his plans for retirement. However, his peace and comfort has been restored as he is united with his heavenly Father and savior, Jesus Christ.
He was preceded in home going by his parents, Arnold and Pauline West Slater; and eldest sister, Esther Carol Slater.
He is survived by his sister, Betty (Steve) Soward; son, Mark (Lorrie) Slater Jr; daughter, Carolyn (Jon) Kell; son, John Mark (Holly) Slater; stepsons, Bill Sergeant and Scott Sergeant; along with 14 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made to the Forgotten Child Fund at PO Box 5932 Chattanooga, TN 37406 or the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at Chattanooga Memorial Park Cemetery.
Due to CDC guidelines, facemasks and social distancing will be required during services.
Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family and view the funeral service livestream.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.