Doris Laurine Wolff Mellion, peacefully passed away surrounded by loved ones on January 31, 2026. She was 99 years old. She is survived by her son Paul Mellion, her nieces Linda Umla, (Vivienne Munden), Wendy Umla, Gigi Andryszewski, (Rich Andryszewski), Jill Hutchinson, (Jerry Hutchinson) and her great nephews Cole Hutchinson and Neil Hutchinson. Doris was devoted to her family and friends.

The eldest daughter of Ruby and Lou Wolff, Doris was born June 18,1926, in Freeport, New York. She is predeceased by her two sisters Kiki Umla and Barbee Baron. They were raised in Long Beach, Long Island, New York.

Doris graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia. During that time, she frequently visited her grandparents, Saul and Sarah Goffin in the house they built on Laura Street in Jacksonville, Fla. Saul, a Russian immigrant and prominent entrepreneur, had established the Goffinsville Community in Nassau County in 1893. It was a self-sufficient 19-acre community, now part of Fernandina, and it included an oyster-canning plant, commissary, post office, church and a fleet of shrimp boats. He was a prolific businessman who worked to build up that region. Years later Doris, Kiki and Barbee sold the Goffinsville property to the Trust for Public Land specifically to create a park honoring their grandfather’s memory and rejecting lucrative offers for commercial development. Today, the park features a boat ramp, fishing pier, walking trails, playground, and covered picnic areas with grills for all of the community to enjoy.

Doris traveled between Philadelphia, where her mother Ruby and her stepfather Dr. Martin Sokoloff lived and Jacksonville where she finally settled in the late 1950’s. There she met and married Dr Anson Mellion and they soon had a son, Paul. A few years later Doris and Anson divorced, and Doris moved back up to Philadelphia where she worked for several years at the prestigious Buchholz Gallery.

When her stepfather passed away, Doris and her mother Ruby then moved to San Marco in Jacksonville. Doris started her career in stationary at The Emporium and eventually in 1979 she opened The Write Touch in San Marco Square. Situated next to The Ward Room, Ward Lariscy and Doris became close friends, a friendship that lasted for over 45 years. “Doris was a stickler for etiquette,” said Ward, “She wasn’t into those fussy invitations and stationery. If it wasn’t right, she wouldn’t put her name on it.” Lariscy and Doris set up their own security system. At The Write Touch, Doris was well known to always have a Doberman in the window. Whenever Ward thought somebody questionable would enter his shop, he would call her and ask if she was ready for tea. “Doris would come with her dog who would scare the shoppers-in-question right out of the store.” Indeed, one time a man had his pockets full of merchandise and the dog went up and sniffed at his crotch. Doris told the man, “I only have to say two words, and you’ll never have sex again.” The man emptied his pockets and fled.

The camaraderie amongst all of the shop owners in San Marco Square was palpable. Customers often became lifelong friends. One of those was Howard Serkin, an investment banker who said “Doris was so precise in her work. She made sure everything was perfect. The Write Touch was the place to go for stationery, wedding and party invitations, graduation announcements and all the other occasions that come with life. She knew so many people in Jacksonville and along the First Coast. She made it a place on the map and she was an institution.”

A member of the Women’s Board of Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital, for years Doris volunteered countless hours of her time and expertise serving the board’s mission to raise awareness and funds to ensure the finest available pediatric health care. Accordingly, her efforts earned her the Board’s prestigious Abbie Martin Award for service which cited Doris as an “unequalled source of guidance and resources for matters involving etiquette and protocol. Doris has worked discreetly behind the scenes for years from creating vignettes for the Antiques Show to proofing invitations. She has generously given her expertise, the wares and services of her stationery shop, and countless hours, going to extraordinary lengths to ensure our events are flawless.”

Doris eventually sold The Write Touch in 2010 and retired, although she continued her volunteer work. She leaves behind a huge number of friends, colleagues and customers who will remember her for her sense of style, attention to detail, and her love of ballet, music and the arts.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Genesis Foundation or The Brooks Health Foundation.

A celebration of life is being planned for May.