Carol Hylton continues to raise awareness about neurovascular disease after son’s death from stroke
Shortly after her son Michael Hylton died from a stroke in 2009, Carol Hylton formed an organisation to raise awareness about neurovascular disease.
Smiley’s Voice Foundation has been active since then, and is the driving force behind the Black, Red & White Foundation Gala.
The 12th staging of that event takes place on November 22 at Doubletree By Hilton hotel in Fort Lauderdale.
“Our son Michael Hylton Jr, known to some as ‘Dee Jay Smiley’, was only 29 years-old when he passed away. He was warm, welcoming, kind, respectful, a humanitarian who always saw the good in everyone,” said Carol Hylton, a registered nurse from Portland.
“He would greet everyone with a smile; he was a mentor, a brother and a devoted son. Michael loved playing music and formed Crowdpleasers Entertainment which many people still tell us how happy they were to have him play at their parties, weddings and his favourite club, Ginger Bay Cafe, in downtown Hollywood (South Florida). He was a real crowd-pleaser,” she added.
Last year, the Black, Red & White Foundation Fundraising Gala raised US$5,000. Those funds were donated to the Stroke Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in St Andrew.
In July 2024, Hylton and fellow Jamaican Dr Rosemarie Lewis coordinated a mission to that facility, led by leading South Florida neurosurgeons Dr Norman Ajiboye and Dr Brandon Davis.
While in Jamaica, they conducted five “critical” surgeries along with Dr Kevin Wade, consultant neurointerventional surgeon at the UHWI.
Carol Hylton heads Smiley’s Voice Foundation with strong support from husband Michael, and daughters Mikara and Marissa. She says raising even more funds this year is one of their priorities. Another is honouring the memory of their son and brother.
“Michael was a God-fearing young man who loved his family and considered us his foundation. We started this Foundation after this negative life-changing experience to continue his legacy of love,” said Carol Hylton. “If we can save one person from dying from a stroke or the impact of a stroke, then we can say we are living the mission of Smiley’s Voice Foundation.”
