Rasul Raheem

Rasul Abdul-Raheem was born Mark Harry Slaughter on October 5, 1957 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the 4th of six children born to James Calvin Slaughter and Beverly Green Slaughter. Rasul’s early years were spent growing up in Philadelphia and Washington, DC before his family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1971. There he attended Forsythe Jr. High and Pioneer High School, excelling in track & field, basketball and football. His most stellar achievements were in football, where he was twice unanimously selected to 1st Team All State and held an unbroken school record in interceptions. Rasul went on to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor He graduated from Michigan in 1979, after playing football under coach Bo Schembechler from 1975-1976. While at Michigan, he pledged the brotherhood of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and remained an active alumni member. It was during his time at Michigan that Rasul began to study the religion of Islam, its teachings and beliefs. Embracing the Islamic religion, he became a Muslim and changed his name to Ameen Rasul Musheer Abdul-Raheem, advocate, messenger and servant of God the compassionate one. After graduating from the University of Michigan, Rasul matriculated to Wayne State University Law School. While attending Wayne State, he met the woman who would one day become his wife, Antoinette (Toni), the love of his life. After a chance encounter attending a Black Law Student Conference in Detroit, Rasul offered Toni, then a law student in New York, a lift to the airport, as she was flying back to school. The rest, as they say, is history. Antoinette and Rasul wed in 1982. Rasul received his Juris Doctorate from Wayne State in 1984. After graduating law school, Rasul began his career as an attorney at the Kirk & McCargo law firm. In 1988 Rasul began the legal work that would become the primary focus of his career, banking law, at Bank of America and its predecessors. After practicing law for over 15 years, Rasul returned to Wayne State Law School, this time to pursue his Masters in Law. In December of 2003 Rasul received his Masters in Corporate and Finance Law (LLM). Rasul was also an adjunct law professor, teaching the Law of Banking and Financial Institutions at Cooley Law School starting in 2010. After leaving Bank of America, Rasul worked at the law firms of Plunkett Cooney and Dykema until he attained the position he had long desired as a General Counsel. Rasul worked as a General Counsel at DWSD until his passing. Rasul was a pillar of his community. His contributed to the legal and broader community with a plethora of volunteer activities, including his service as President of the Augustus Straker Bar Association, on the NBA President’s Corporate Advisory Committee, with the Black Alumni of Wayne State Law School, on the National Bar Association Board of Governors, on the Board of Directors of Head Start Detroit, and on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity & Inclusion. Rasul was also appointed by the Mayor of Detroit to the Board of Directors of the Detroit Land Bank Authority. He further served as a hearing panelist for the State of Michigan Attorney Discipline Board. In addition to being an active member of his beloved fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, one of Rasul’s greatest passions was his study of Isshinryu karate. Two days before Rasul’s passing, he was awarded the 6th degree Black Belt, one of the highest distinctions in karate. Although Rasul never sought the spotlight or strived for accolades (famous for saying “you just do what you gotta do”), the awards found him nonetheless. Over the course of his career he received many honors including Man of Excellence from the Michigan Chronicle, Integrity Award from Thomas Cooley Law School and Trailblazer of the Year Award from the Augustus Straker Bar Association.. Rasul was always professionally driven, but the happiest times in his life revolved around family. Rasul became a father for the first time in 1982 with the birth of his son, Omar. He welcomed Daira, his first daughter in 1987, and on New Years Day 1993, Rasul’s youngest, Alia, was born. Additionally, in 1999 Rasul’s niece Jenna became a part of the Raheem family, rounding out the family to a happy six. A phenomenal coach for many decades, Rasul coached his children and godchildren in soccer, basketball and most notably baseball. When he wasn’t busy with the law, driving four kids to three different schools or spending time at the dojo, Rasul was an avid and lifelong fan of Michigan football, an engrossed golfer and a proud dog lover of Sheba, Madison and Rosie. Rasul answered to a number of titles: Counselor, Dad, Coach, Uncle, Brother, and his favorite, Abu (called by his grandkids). He was all those things and more. He fiercely fought for those people and ideals he loved, he maintained the highest degree of integrity and always reached back to help others pay it forward. He is and was a man for all times who will be sorely missed. Rasul is survived by his loving wife of forty-two years, Antoinette, his children Omar (Angela), Jenna (David), Daira, and Alia, his grandchildren, Gabriel and Kaia, and his siblings Diane (Frank), Natalie (Norbert), and Matthew, his cousins Linda and Sherri, nieces Kristine (Zach) and Rachel, and nephews Karanja (Kineta) and Aaron, along with a host of other relatives. Rasul is preceded in death by both his parents, his older brother James Jr., sister-in-law Janice, and sister Kerry. ************************************************************************************************************************** Live Streaming Instructions (VIA ZOOM) 1. Go to Kempfuneralhome.com. 2. Click on your loved one’s photo or use the search bar and type in your loved one’s name. 3. You are now on their Tribute Page. 4. You should see a tab labeled photo & videos (or it may be labeled media, depending on your device). Select that tab. 5. Just before the service starts, you will see an icon labeled Webcast (or it may be labeled external video, depending on your device). Select the icon. 6. You will begin to launch into the zoom meeting

Rasul Raheem

October 5, 1957 - June 2, 2024