*Josephine Wright, the South Carolina woman who made national headlines for fighting developers over property that has belonged to her family since the end of the Civil War, died earlier this year at age 94. Two months after her passing, her fight concluded with Bailey Point Investment, the construction company seeking her land.
The Guardian reports that the company settled with Wright’s family members, ending the dispute that began with a lawsuit for ownership last year.
According to South Carolina Public Radio, the settlement confirms that the family retains ownership of the property within Bailey Point’s proposed 29-acre neighborhood. The company is prohibited from contacting the family regarding the purchase of the land, and a privacy fence will be installed between the property and the construction of a new residential development.
Wright’s story caught Tyler Perry’s attention, and before her death, he promised to build her a new house on the property. The movie mogul hit up social media to express condolences after Wright’s passing in January.
“I am so heartbroken to hear about the passing of this warrior. Ms. Josephine Wright, even though we spoke by phone, I was so looking forward to meeting you in person next month to hand you the keys to your new house, but God had other plans,” Perry explained in a post on Instagram. “My prayer is that you rest in peace knowing that I will honor the commitment that I made to you. I know you will be watching over us all as I hand those same keys to your family.”
Perry added, “So your 4 children, 40 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren will still be able to gather at YOUR house on YOUR land and tell the world what kind of fighter that you were. You have run your race and fought an incredible fight! Journey well my dear lady. You have inspired me.”
We reported earlier via CNN that Wright and her late husband, Samuel Wright Sr., moved from New York to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, nearly 30 years ago to seek peace and relaxation on a family-owned property. Wright acquired the deed to the land in 2012 after her husband died in 1998. The property was at the center of a legal battle with the developer looking to build a residential development next door.
According to The Post and Courier, Georgia-based Bailey Point Investment, LLC plans to construct 147 homes next to Wright’s house.
As of 2014, Bailey Point Investment reportedly owns the land surrounding Wright’s 1.8-acre property. The company tried to buy Wright’s residence a few years back, offering just $39,000, but she rejected it, according to USA TODAY.
Wright countersued the company, and that’s when she caught Perry’s attention, who vowed to build her a new five-bedroom home on the land, TMZ reported.
AFROTECH reports that after a tree fell on Wright’s home and left two holes, Perry built a new home for the great-great-grandmother.
A GoFundMe for Wright raised over $350,000. Snoop Dogg and Kyrie Irving donated $10,000 and $40,000, respectively.
READ MORE: Tyler Perry Will Still Build New Home for Late South Carolina Woman Who Fought Developers | VIDEO
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