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Florence Willison, known to her friends and family as Toni, died Saturday, May 13, 1998, in Schenectady, New York. She was born in 1903 and grew up in New York City. As a young woman, she worked as a button painter and dental assistant. During the 1920s, Mrs. Willison lived in Greenwich Village. An early marriage to Jack Tworkov ended in divorce. George Findlay Willison and Toni began their life together in 1928, residing in Annapolis, Maryland; Croton-on-Hudson, New York; Provincetown, Massachusetts; and Washington, D.C.; before settling in Malta. The Willisons had one son, Malcolm. Like her husband, Mrs. Willison was politically active. She supported the Loyalists during the Spanish Civil War and British, Chinese, and Soviet allied war relief during World War II. She was a volunteer for the League of Women Voters and the American Civil Liberties Union and, for many years, served as an election official in Malta, New York.

George and Toni Willison were long-time residents of Malta, a small village near Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, where they enjoyed country living and were respected members of the community. They came to Malta in 1946 at the invitation of Katherine Anne Porter to determine if they would like living in South Hill, the house Miss Porter purchased and renovated in 1941. Their subsequent agreement to buy the house from her began a long friendship and correspondence. George Willison lived at South Hill until his death in 1972. Toni Willison remained there until 1997, the year in which the University of Maryland Libraries acquired the Willisons' correspondence with Miss Porter. In 1998, Tom and Sue Nolen, themselves Malta residents of many years, purchased South Hill from the Willison estate and now reside there.

Mrs. Willison is survived by her son of Schenectady, New York; a sister, Grace Peaty of Pompton Lakes, New Jersey; and a granddaughter. A memorial service was held on June 13, 1998, at the Malta Ridge United Methodist Church and included music, reminiscences by family and friends, and photographs and memorabilia. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Ballston Spa Public Library, the Malta Ambulance Corps, or to a charity of one's choice.