Celebs Back 93-Year-Old Woman In Her Fight To ‘Be Left Alone’ By Land Developers Who Want Her Home

Aug 16, 2023 by apost team

Tyler Perry, the renowned film producer and studio owner, has pledged his support for Josephine Wright, a 93-year-old grandmother who found herself embroiled in a legal battle with property developers seeking to force her out of her ancestral home in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in 2023.

Wright's bungalow, which has been in her family since the Civil War, sits on land that Bailey Point Investment is developing. The company filed a lawsuit against her, claiming that parts of her property encroach on their land. Upon hearing about Wright's problems, Perry expressed his sentiments on social media in June 2023 to show solidarity with Wright. 

The Wright family has resided in their home for generations, and the property holds significant sentimental value to the 93-year-old woman. As the wife of a Gullah Geechee Islander whose ancestors were enslaved on the rice, indigo and Sea Island cotton plantations, she cherishes her connection to the past and considers her home a symbol of her heritage, per WSAV. The land was passed down from escaped slaves who were freed by Union soldiers after the Civil War. 

Perry, from New Orleans, Louisiana, didn't come from a rich background, but he persevered by writing and creating stage productions that centered on African-American families. He also produced a number of movies, including the blockbuster film "Madea's Family Reunion," which hit $30 million at the box office in 2006. Madea became a film series, spawning eight installments. 

In 2012, Perry struck a partnership with Oprah Winfrey to produce scripted TV programs. His work also brought him to ViacomCBS and several book dealerships. In 2020, Forbes named Perry as one of Hollywood's most lucrative talents, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion.  

Perry's involvement in Wright's case is not surprising, given his reputation for philanthropy and generosity. The billionaire is known for his annual Thanksgiving food giveaways, his support for organizations affected by crime, and his efforts to uplift individuals and communities in need. 

"'I’ve pretty much been a fighter all my life' said 93 year old Josephine Wright," Perry wrote when he raised awareness for the elderly woman's plight on his Instagram on June 29, 2023. "Well, that makes two of us. Ms. Wright, please tell where to show up and what you need to help you fight."  

Bailey Point Investment intends to construct a 147-unit development spanning 29 acres surrounding Wright's property. Initially, they approached her with an offer to purchase her land, but she refused. 

Subsequently, she claims to have experienced a campaign of harassment, including slashed tires, trash thrown on her property, and even a snake hanging from one of her windows. In response, Bailey Point has accused Wright of obstructing their construction progress and filed a lawsuit alleging that her porch extends onto their land. 

Wright has already incurred expenses, having paid approximately $1,900 to move a shed and remove a satellite dish in an effort to comply with the developer's demands. However, she remains resolute in her determination to fight for her home. 

Former State Representative Bakari Sellers, now part of Wright's legal team, joined the cause and called upon concerned citizens to contact the developer and lawmakers to support Wright's cause. As more people found out about Wright’s fight, more people chipped in to help.

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According to CNN, Wright’s late husband was Gullah Geechee. Sellers explained that “land battles with developers have historically been an issue” for the Gullah Geechee people. “Their land is so valuable,” Sellers said. “They (developers) have been doing this for years. This is not new.”

Wright’s granddaughter Tracy Love Graves said she was offered $30,000 for the land but declined. In February 2023, the developer filed a lawsuit against Wright in a claim that her satellite dish, shed and porch were on the developer’s land.

“My porch is not on their property,” Wright stated. She added, “I want to be left alone. I want to live on my property like I have always in peace and quiet.”

Wright submitted her own counterclaim in April 2023, which was amended in June, and accused Bailey Point of a “constant barrage of tactics of intimidation, harassment, trespass, to include this litigation in an effort to force her to sell her property.”

A GoFundMe campaign was also established to help her cover the legal costs associated with the lawsuit. As of press time, the fundraiser reached over $316,000 in donations from over 6,300 people. According to the GoFundMe campaign’s top donors, NBA star Kyrie Irving donated $40,000 to the campaign. CNN confirmed his donation. A $10,000 donation from Snoop Dogg’s Death Row Records was also listed.

Wright expressed her hope that the fight for her land would inspire other Black landowners in her area to do their part in defending their own property. “They have never been able to fight back,” she said. “But once they see somebody doing it, they will know that they have the right to do what I did.”

The case of Josephine Wright has garnered significant attention and support. What can you say about Tyler Perry’s and other celebrities’ moves to help the elderly woman? What about the woman’s fight for her land? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones.