Beloved author Toni Morrison passed away on August 5, 2019 at the age of 88. Born Chloe Anthony Wofford in Lorain, Ohio on February 18, 1931, Toni earned her undergraduate degree from Howard University and went on to receive her master's degree from Cornell University in 1955. Throughout her career, Toni wrote eleven novels, three children's books, two plays and numerous other works, including nonfiction and essay collections. She gained prominence when her third novel, Song of Solomon, was awarded the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1977. Her success continued with National Book Award-winning Beloved in 1987, as well as the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Beloved. Other notable works by Toni include The Bluest Eye, Sula, and A Mercy, among many more. She was also the recipient of many awards, including the National Humanities Medal in 2000 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. Toni's impact on literature and culture was undeniable, and she was widely appreciated for her inspirational writing and unyielding dedication to her craft. Toni Morrison is survived by her two sons, Harold and Slade. She will be remembered fondly and celebrated as one of the greatest and most influential authors of our time.