Lloyd Augustus ‘Milo’ Wright affectionately and popularly called “Father MILO,” both in his native country of Jamaica and in the Flatbush community of Brooklyn community where he resided since migrating to the Unites States died on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 after a prolonged illness with cancer. He was busy planning for his birthday party celebrations for July 2 nd when he succumbed. Milo was the proud owner of popular Brooklyn restaurants that bore his pet name ‘MILO’s.” The restaurants were known not only for the serving of delicious and sumptuous Jamaican food specialties, but were a mecca for hundred of Jamaican food connoisseurs and patrons from the tri-state area, hoping to encounter friends from days gone by, and often times to play Domino games in the back yard space the restaurants provided.
‘Milo’ Wright was renowned chef and was a popular party promoter as well, frequently staging many exciting parties over the years. His parties brought many Jamaican and Caribbean immigrants together to enjoy social interaction and for his home-cook Jamaican cuisine, staged at various venues around the tri -state region.
A native of St. James parish in Jamaica, Milo grew up in the capital city of Kingston, migrated to Brooklyn, New York in the early eighties. There he started his first Jamaican restaurant on Nostrand Ave in the East Flatbush section, ─ long before the proliferation of the now common place eateries. With his adept culinary skills and hospitable manners his restaurants attracted many loyal patrons, making him renowned all across the tri-state region. His now famous and often memorable Friday evenings ‘back-yard’ dominoes games attracted throngs of patrons to his popular eateries, with games often extending into the ‘wee- hours’ of the night ─ players all sharing happy times with ‘old’ friends from ‘back home’ and the chance to meet new acquaintances.
In full week of celebrations held in his honor – he made this requested to his family ─ held at the popular Brooklyn night club ‘Tropical Reflection.’ There, hundreds of his friends and supporters came nightly, including Jamaica Consul General to New York, Ambassador Basil K. Bryan and New York State Assembly member N. Nick Perry, all came and paid condolences to his family and respect to him. Many playing domino games, swapping stories about his exciting life and dancing to ‘vintage’ Jamaican Reggae music, ─ his preferred style of music. This all done in his memory, with no trace of solemn grief but sadness of his passing. Milo Wright ‘s Funeral ‘Service of Thangiving’ attracted thousand of mourners and road block, necessitating the New York City police to detour the massive motor vehicle traffic to adjacent streets. A spectacular police escort was provided his funeral cortège, as a courtesy to his family and for the over four hundred car motorcade attending his interment to the Kew Garden cemetery in Queens, New York.
His only son, O’ Neil, obviously saddens at passing of his father, yet upbeat told me that his father was a wonderful provider and with a joyful smile said that his Dad was a ‘party animal’. He added. “My Dad always kept us clean and he was a good provider to me and my three sisters.” Wiping tears said. “I will miss him so very much” Many of his friends expressed sorrow, many mostly spoke of the wonderful times and happy memories they shared with their friend. Byron “Barney” Dudley, manager of Stone Love Music and a close personal friend of many years summed up saying. “Milo, my friend, will be missed constantly by me and hundreds. He was full of joy and love life. He made us all happy to be around him. Milo was the life of the party.” Community activist and president of CAPE, Imer Akbar, a friend for many years said. “I will remember Milo with much joy. He was a respected Jamaican, a community activist, a top class dresser but most of all a great cook.”
Former New York City Council member Una Clarke, on learning of his passing expressed her sadness saying, “My brother and friend Milo was an anchor in the Brooklyn community of Flatbush. He was a real grass-root activist, who remembered from whence he came. For the many folks who knew him from visiting his renowned restaurants, he gave them each a touch of Jamaica from his cooking. From his delicious Red –Pea soup to the Curry Goat, the Cow –Cod soup to the ‘Mannish Water’, Jamaicans and others were well nurtured in his restaurants. The popular former City Council member and Mother of recently elected US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke added. “For me, Milo was a generous supporter, advocate and a true friend. Milo will be sorely missed by all who valued his friendship.”
“MILO” will be remembered by his many friends, patrons of his restaurant and parties and his family as a man who spread happiness, a man who showed kindness to all he met, a man who loved to dress elegantly, but will be mostly remembered as great cook from sunny Jamaica.
Lloyd Augustus “MILO” Wright was sixty three years. He is survived by his ninety –three year old mother Lillian Wright, daughters Camille, Carol, Trica and son O’Neill and six grand children.
