Florence Wilson

With grace and quiet dignity, Florence Shirley Wilson, a woman of timeless beauty and indomitable spirit, departed this life on November 21, 2025. A trailblazer in industry, a pillar of her community, and the devoted matriarch of the Wilson family. Florence leaves behind a legacy as vibrant as the gardens she so lovingly tended. Born Florence Shirley Garnett on March 11, 1929, to Minnie Mitchell and Joseph Garnett, she entered the world in the bustling heart of New York City. She was raised in Harlem. A proud alumna of Evander Childs High School, she continued her education at the City College of New York, laying the foundation for a life of curiosity and achievement. On October 14, 1951, under the canopy of a crisp, clear autumn sky, Florence gave her hand in marriage to the only love of her life, the late George Wilson. Their union was one of deep devotion, and together they established their family in Mount Vernon, New York, raising three children with love, discipline, and pride. Florence was a woman ahead of her time. With a poise that commanded attention, she graduated from the Grace Del Marco Modeling Agency and stepped into history as one of America’s first African American advertising and fashion models. In an era of breaking barriers, Florence was the face of change, gracing campaigns for national giants such as Pepsi Cola, Lucky Strike, Bayer Aspirin, Mum Deodorant, Lysol, and Palmer’s Skin Soap. Her elegance was immortalized as a spokesmodel for Schaefer Beer and in advertisements for Knickerbocker Beer. Beyond the glamour, Florence possessed a soul deeply tethered to her community. Her altruism began early with the American Legion Post 1095 Drum and Bugle Corp and flourished into a lifetime of service. She was a tireless advocate for others, lending her energy to the Institute for the Blind, the Heart Fund, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Possessing a sharp civic mind, she worked on numerous political campaigns and championed local causes. She served as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts of America, was an early member of the Concerned Property Owners, and dedicated herself to the Graham Neighborhood Association. A true visionary, she was the Founder of Project 60, leaving an indelible mark on local activism. Florence saw the world through an artist’s eye. She was a lover of the high arts, finding joy in the soaring notes of opera, the creative discipline of sewing, and the expressive freedom of painting. She took singing lessons to refine her own voice and found solace in the rhythm of the ocean waves at her beloved beaches. Her connection to the earth was deep rooted. A devotee of horticulture, she spent her quiet hours nurturing life from the soil. She was a contributing member of the Inter-Community Garden Club of New Rochelle and a member of the Native Plant Center Westchester Community College. Florence was a loving wife and mother who poured her wisdom into her family. She is survived by her three children: Gary Wilson, Gale Herious, and Dale Wilson; and her son-in-law, Glenn Herious. She also leaves behind a host of loving relatives and friends who will miss her warmth. She is reunited with her beloved husband, George, and joins her parents and eight siblings Henri, Joseph, Alfred, Andrew, Thelma, Jeanne, Marilyn and Marion; who predeceased her. Florence Shirley Wilson lived a life of color, purpose, and style. She did not just exist in her times; she helped shape them.

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