Mark Alan Black

Mark Black knew this day might come way too soon, although he was grateful that he had a several more decades than either his father or his grandfathers. Mark was born in 1952 in Greensboro, NC to George and Irene Katchen Black. He died on September 22, 2024, at age 72 surrounded by his loving family.

Mark’s parents had moved south for work in the late 1940’s and never moved back to the New York City area. The Black family was part of a tightknit Jewish community in the small Virginia town of Martinsville, where George owned and operated a successful chain of music stores. Mark met one of his best friends John Richardson at age 13 and they had countless adventures together for over 55 years, including multi-hour lunches in downtown Roanoke.

Mark left Martinsville in 1970 to attend the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and then, in 1974, to Washington University Law School in St. Louis. After spending a few years in Atlanta, Mark lost his father in a tragic automobile accident in August 1979 at age 56. Mark then moved to Martinsville and, in 1983, to Roanoke, VA, where he raised his family and worked tirelessly since 1998 as an attorney helping many clients through very difficult situations. He and his wife Sheila retired to Raleigh in 2022 to be closer to family members.

Mark is survived by his wife Sheila Rodenhizer Black; his children Jason and Amy Black of Short Hills, NJ and Stacy and Craig Becher of Raleigh; his stepchildren James Heath and Rachel Abbott of Raleigh and Kaitlin and Nick Krause of Richmond. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren Tyler and Seth Black and Sadie, Landon, and Austin Becher.

Other survivors include his sister and brother-in-law Sherry and Mitchell Horwich of Miami; sisters and brothers-in-law Para Drake of Durham, Faye and Eric Hill of Surfside Beach, SC, and brother-in-law Harry E. Rodenhizer III of Durham.

Mark was predeceased by his parents George Black and Irene Katchen Black, and by his stepfather Peter Pallot.

A funeral service will take place at Temple Beth Or in Raleigh, followed by burial at Ohev Zion Cemetery in Ridgeway, VA. He will lie next to his beloved father George.

Memorial contributions can be made to Temple Beth Or in Raleigh or Temple Emanuel in Roanoke.