Walter L. Frison

Walter Lee Frison
1939 – 2026

Walter Lee Frison was born on December, 25 1939, in Monticello, Jefferson County, Florida. He was the eighth of twelve children born to his parents, Samuel (Sam) Frison (deceased) and Rosa Lee (Ruffin) Frison (deceased). He was raised in Quincy, Florida.

In the late 1950s/early 1960s, Walter moved to Rochester, New York, to be with his older sister, Corrine, and other family members who had migrated to Rochester.

He began working for Rochester Psychiatric Center (RPC) and Strong Memorial Hospital. After gaining employment at RPC, he caught the eye of Mae Ola Byrd, who was also employed at RPC. After a short courtship, they were married on November 2, 1962, in Monroe County, New York. They both brought children into their marriage and had one more child five years later.

Walter led a simple life with Mae. Both enjoyed hosting small parties and family BBQs, where Walter would man two gigantic grills in the backyard, drinking Miller High Lifes, flipping various meats, and talking smack with everybody at the party. Walter also enjoyed cooking fried chicken for whoever wanted him to. He helped cater many events for friends and family, providing trays of delicious fried chicken.

In 2020, as COVID was getting a grip on the world, Walter had brain surgery to remove a clot from his brain. In 2022, he was diagnosed with dementia. He became a resident at the Unity Living Center on Genesee Street in Rochester when caring for him at home became too difficult as his dementia progressed.

Through it all, Walter continued to be his happy self for as long as he could. On August 26, 2026, Walter decided it was time and went Home to rest.

He leaves behind his wife, Mae Ola Frison, of Rochester, New York; two brothers, Herbert Frison, of Sanford, Florida, and Archie Frison, of Quincy, Florida; and four children: Stanley Byrd (husband, David Harris), Deborah Rainey, Crystal Burton, and Darrin Frison, all of Rochester, New York.

He also leaves behind a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loving friends.

Friends and family are invited to pay respects at Calling Hours from 2 to 3 PM on Tuesday, September 22nd at New Comer Funeral Home's East location, 6 Empire Blvd., Rochester, NY 14609. A Memorial Service will immediately follow, beginning at 3 PM. For those unable to attend in person, the memorial service will be live streamed. To view the livestream of Walter's Service, please click here.