Claude and I meet when we both taught at Ferrum College.  He taught in the Business Department and I taught in the Math Department.  At that time, Ferrum College provided residential living for its teachers and staff.  Claude and I lived in a house that was divided into four apartments, two upstairs and two downstairs. I lived in one of the upstairs apartments, and he lived in one of the downstairs apartments.  We had many good visits and good laughs.  Claude helped me with practical things.  He reminded me that my car needed new tires; he got rid of a mouse in my apartment; he helped me when a student gave me a bucket full of fish. Through the years, we have maintained our friendship.  

Claude was an asset to Ferrum College.  I have never met a more dedicated educator. In each class, Claude collected homework from each student and had it graded to return to the students the next time the class met.  Claude even graded each homework typing assignment--looking carefully whether there was one space after a comma and two spaces after a period.

Claude went to his partent's home each weekend to care for their needs. His family was very important to him. 

I honor my friendship with Claude.  He was a very fine person with impeccable moral character.  He was quite spiritual.  In our telephone conversations during the past year, he always spoke of his faith and encouraged me in mine.

I shall miss Claude tremendously.

Honoring our friendship,
Sharon Hauge

I am so sorry to hear of Claudes passing. He was a treasure and one of the nicest people i have ever met. I had the pleasure of cutting Claudes hair for 10 years. He will truly be missed 

Thoughts and prayers to Claude's family and friends. He was a wonderful, sweet man. He was always so nice to my parents and our whole family. 

My condolences to Claude’s family and friends.  He was a good friend an  cousin and always ready to share vegetables from his garden. I am so sorry to hear about his passing.  Love and prayers. He will be missed. 

I've known Claude for over 15 years. He knew several of my family members from Ferrum College. He was a true Southern gentleman with a big, kind, caring heart. He never visited empty handed, whether it was the big tomatoes from his garden, canned produce, apples or sweet potatoes in the fall, but always at Christmas it included an amaryllis bulb for me to watch bloom and most years the pretty hemlock pine with it's tiny pine cones for the table decorations. And Christmas always included two boxes of my favorite cherry candy, one for Christmas and one for my birthday in January. In the last couple years many of our talks were about Heaven and I believe with all my heart that he was ready to meet Jesus.  He was a good man and I know his pain and suffering is over and he is reunited with his precious mom whom he spoke of so fondly. Our loss is Heaven's gain. Rest in peace Claude, I'll miss you.

Mr. Slate was one of my professors at Ferrum and a colleague for many years. He was a quiet, caring, kind and  humble man with an equally quiet sense of humor.

I worked with Claude for 29 years. In that time I never heard him say an unkind word or treat anyone with disrespect. He was a true gentleman and a fine teacher.

I met Claude at Blue Ridge Therapy Connection. 
I only knew him for a short time, but he was a very dear sweet man. He was a pleasure to know, always greeted anyone with a huge smile and a kind heart. He will be greatly missed. My Condolences to his loving family. You’re in my thoughts and prayers. 

Nancy Hayes, Gary and Chris Mascali

My condolences to the Slate family at the passing of a kind and gentle man. Claude was our colleague at Ferrum College where he served on the faculty for more than 30 years. He was also a friend of my family. 
May his soul rest in peace. 
Rathin Basu

OBITUARY

Joseph Claude Slate

June 26, 1942 – August 15, 2023

Collins-McKee-Stone Funeral Home

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