news-record.com

Seventy-four year old Clarence Slaughter is known around the Guilford College area of Greensboro as the peace runner.
He got this nickname because he flashes the peace sign, along with a cheerful smile, as he runs along winding roads in and around the Meadowood Road neighborhood.

Whether people are on foot or driving, everyone gets a peace sign, and people usually respond back to Slaughter with the same.
The thought behind making the peace sign, Slaughter said, is to help everyone understand “that peace is the ideal relationship among all people and that this can be achieved through a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Slaughter has been running this route for about 40 years and has special reasons for doing so.

His father died of a heart attack at age 45, leaving his widow with two young boys to raise. An indelible impression was left on Slaughter because of his father’s early death and its effect on his mother.

“Watching her struggle to support us, plus her aging parents, made me determined not to leave a wife in the same situation,” Slaughter said.

“My brother and I also missed having a father figure for strength and guidance. I was determined to avoid this with my family, if possible.”

One day during his early work career, Slaughter noticed that he was breathing a little heavier after climbing a flight of stairs and was struck with the realization that he needed a lifestyle change.

“I wanted to grow old with the love of my life, and see our children grow up and mature,” he said.

He decided to do whatever he could to make this happen and started jogging one mile a day. Gradually, this increased to five miles a day five days a week.

Now, after 40 years of jogging, he has run approximately the equivalent of 2,900 marathons – quietly and methodically, much like he lives his life, according to his son, Chip.

“Running is a time for me to commune with God, so I am never really alone, as Jesus and I talk over events and about people we have on our hearts.”

During Slaughter’s running time, he also takes time to do community service.

Trash thrown out of cars has always been Slaughter’s pet peeve. He used to grumble to himself about seeing trash along his running route. Then he decided to do something about it.

As he ran, he began picking up trash and depositing it in public-park garbage cans.

Soon, it became apparent to Slaughter that he could keep his neighborhood streets clean by picking up trash as he ran each day, he said.

“God has given us a marvelous place to live with instructions to maintain and leave our world better than we found it, and I plan to do my part.”

When Slaughter runs, he also picks up newspapers and places the papers on porches when he knows the person is not at home or able to come outdoors to get it. He closes mail boxes so potential thieves can’t see inside and so rain won’t blow inside the mailbox. He sets overturned garbage cans upright.

Slaughter is also known for his faith and commitment in teaching God’s word in a Sunday school class at Muir’s Chapel United Methodist Church, where he and his wife, Marie, have been members for many years. He also assists Marie, his wife of almost 55 years, as she coordinates church food collections for the Greensboro Urban Ministry.

“Clarence is a 'behind the scenes’ person who enjoys doing for others,” Marie said.

“His running experiences and his entire life have made a difference to me and to our four children as they grew into caring, responsible adults. Now he is an example to our nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.”

Chip Slaughter said his father is his greatest hero and role model and has been a great inspiration to him.

“He has lived his entire life as selfless as anyone I’ve ever known or even heard about, Chip said.

“Dad was the director of the youth program while a member of many years of Glenwood Methodist Church,” Chip said.

“He led many young people to Christ, took teenagers on mission trips, and taught by example what living a God-centered life is all about.”

When his parents married, Chip said, Clarence Slaughter promised his bride he would take care of her so she could be the mother she wanted to be to their children, Melinda, Karen, Chip and Lori. He kept this promise, and Marie never worked outside the home, but was given the opportunity to provide a welcoming, warm home haven for their children and her husband.

Daughter Melinda Mann of Greensboro believes her father is the perfect role model. “If more men were like him, many problems in the world would be eliminated because he is such a moral and good Christian man.”

Slaughter is a 1958 graduate of Guilford College and earned a master’s degree in federal project management from George Washington University.

After graduation from Guilford, he went to work for Western Electric and the parent company AT&T in various management positions in Greensboro and Winston Salem. After 38 years with the company, he retired in 1996.

Slaughter’s life continues to be one of commitment — to good health through his running, to his family by his faith and example, and to his community by sharing peace and giving of himself through acts of kindness.

To suggest a person or organization who has or is “Making a Difference” in Guilford County, contact Peggy Longmire at rlongmire@triad.rr.com or 288-9040.