Biography:
Mark Darren Lane was born to Edward and Stella Murchison Lane on November 1, 1961 in Brooklyn, NY. He was his parents’ joy. A precocious infant, he was lovingly cared for until he entered preschool by his maternal grandmother Mrs. Winnie Jane Smith Murchison. He grew up in Lindsay Houses located in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Mark attended Junior Academy, a renowned Brooklyn Based African American independent school, from preschool through eighth grade, under the tutelage of Mrs. Dorothy Bostic, Director. Mark excelled academically and became a student of classical piano while in elementary school. By middle school he had become proficient on the instrument, delighting his music teacher and mother at annual concerts where he played piano concertos with his peers.
Mark lost his dad when he was 8 years old and he and his mom became a close-knit duo. She insured that he was exposed to a myriad of experiences, summer camp, concerts, a trip to Spain for his eighth grade Senior Trip. His mom was bursting with pride when he was admitted to New York City’s prestigious Stuyvesant High School, where he continued to excel academically and graduated with honors.
After graduation, Mark journeyed to Washington, D.C. to attend Howard University where he graduated Cum Laude and earned his Bachelor’s degree in English. With his degree in hand, he returned to NYC and found employment as a per diem Junior High School English teacher in Brooklyn, NY. Once his teaching assignment ended, Mark was employed as a Housing Assistant with the New York City Housing Authority.
As an adult, Mark like each of us confronted challenges in his life, yet he remained certain that the Creator was watching over him and would bring him through. In his own words: he was so much more than the challenges that he faced in his life.
Mark was generous with his time, volunteering for the National Black Child Development, NY Affiliate and a local chapter of AA for a number of years. Mark departed this life on May 17, 2022 at Woodhull Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY.
He was predeceased by his father Edward (Eddie) his beloved mother, Stella, his older brother Samuel Graham, maternal aunts Yvonne Newkirk and Fannye Carloss. He is survived by his maternal first cousins, Rhonda Carloss Smith (Ian and Kirin), Yvette Newkirk (Shauna), uncle, Luke Newkirk and a host of cousins and extended family. He will be deeply missed.
