Mark Busby Sluder

December 29, 1954 - July 24, 2021

Mark Busby Sluder, 66, passed away unexpectedly Saturday afternoon, July 24, 2021. He was born, December 29, 1954, the son of the late Dr. Harold and Mrs. Carol Sluder and was a lifelong Charlottean. He attended Myers Park High School and Central Piedmont Community College.

Longtime readers of The Charlotte Observer knew him best as “Mark B. Sluder.” He was a longtime staff photographer from 1977 to 1997. Following his time at the Observer during which he was part of two Pulitzer Prize-winning teams and spent another 12 years leading photography at the Sports Business Journal, NASCAR Illustrated and NASCAR Scene. He won numerous national and international awards for his photography including National Motorsports Photographer of the Year (three times).

Mark loved spending time outdoors kayaking, camping and most of all hunting for rocks and fossils, so much so that his grandchildren called him “Fossil.” In his years traveling the NASCAR circuit for work he often would return to his hotel room after a long day and unload his pockets into a rock tumbler he travelled with.

His love of photography was sparked by his teacher at Myers Park, and he continued to take incredible photographs and participate in art classes at the time of his death.

He is survived by his daughter, Addie (James) Sluder and their children, Sydney and Matilda, of Jacksonville, FL.; his son, Michael (Sarah) Sluder and their children, Bennett and Grady of Atlanta, GA. He is also survived by his siblings, Henry Sluder, Linda Sluder and Elizabeth “Kit” Sluder all of Charlotte, NC.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, August 21st at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3115 Providence Road, Charlotte NC, 28211. Masks will be required.

The family requests that memorials be made to The Light Factory, 1817 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205 (www.lightfactory.org) or Camp Blue Skies, 2820 Selwyn Ave., Box 767, Charlotte NC, 28209 (www.campblueskies.org)

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC, 28204.

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