Philanthropist Tyler Perry shared along with his 7.6 million Instagram followers that the South Carolina 94-year-old lady who captured the hearts of many as she stood as much as a housing developer in a authorized battle about her land has handed away.
When builders tried to induce her to promote the Hilton Head land she had been residing on for many years after which took her to courtroom in a dispute about property boundaries, the filmmaker stepped in, promising to assist her combat.
Josephine Wright, a girl of Gullah ancestry, gained nationwide consideration in a David and Goliath combat in opposition to Bailey Level Funding LLC.
In February 2023, Bailey Level initiated a lawsuit alleging that sections of her 1.8-acre parcel residence encroach upon their property.
Wright’s dwelling sits on land that has been in her household because the nineteenth century. Nevertheless, located behind the residence on Jonesville Street on Hilton Head, Bailey Level is within the means of developing a 147-unit improvement.
In July 2023, within the thick of her combat, she mentioned, “I simply need to preserve this a sanctuary,” in line with WSAV.
One other uptick in her profile got here after her granddaughter launched a GoFundMe final summer season to deliver consciousness to her combat with the builders. By final October the household reported on the fundraising web page that her dwelling sustained injury after a tree fell on it. The injury left the house uninhabitable and led to Wright shifting in together with her grandchildren.
That’s when Perry stepped up, promising to construct her a brand new home that she and her youngsters may all the time have within the household. Wright handed away this week earlier than he may hand her the keys to her new dwelling. The household introduced her transition on the GoFundMe web page.
“It’s with heavy hearts that the Wright Household announce the passing of our beloved matriarch, Mrs. Josephine Wright, who peacefully transitioned on January 7, 2024, surrounded by household, family members, and prayers,” the household wrote. “Her legacy as a pillar of energy, knowledge, and dedication to justice will eternally stay etched in our hearts.”
With nice unhappiness the beloved matriarch, Mrs. Josephine Wright, transitioned to be with the ancestors. Her combat to maintain her Hilton Head land that her household has owned because the finish of the Civil Struggle is now ours in opposition to a white grasping land firm. Relaxation In Energy Ma’am! 🕊️🙏🏾🖤 pic.twitter.com/VVLMJSN6L4
— Brotha Moe (@mahfooyee) January 8, 2024
The purpose of $350,000 was exceeded by nearly $17,000. Her youngsters and grandchildren assured these supporting the marketing campaign that the household is establishing the Josephine Wright Basis to maintain her spirit and dream alive.
The most important donation on the crowdfunding web site was $40,000 given by Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving. Nevertheless, what may have been the most important charitable effort was to come back from the Hollywood A-lister Perry.
The billionaire filmmaker wrote this week about being thwarted in his need to current Wright together with her new home.
“I’m so heartbroken to listen to concerning the passing of this warrior. Ms. Josephine Wright, though we spoke by telephone, I used to be so wanting ahead to assembly you in particular person subsequent month handy you the keys to your new home, however God had different plans,” Perry wrote on his Instagram.
“My prayer is that you just relaxation in peace realizing that I’ll honor the dedication that I made to you,” he added. “I do know you’ll be watching over us all as I hand those self same keys to your loved ones.”
Perry continued, “So your 4 youngsters, 40 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren will nonetheless have the ability to collect at YOUR home on YOUR land and inform the world what sort of fighter that you just have been.”
In June 2023, Perry pledged to assist Ms. Josephine when her story about her authorized battle in opposition to Bailey Level Funding LLC went viral. When he realized later of the next structural injury to her dwelling, it was then that the “Madea” creator dedicated himself to constructing her a model new five-bedroom dwelling to accommodate the nonagenarian and her descendants.
He mentioned that dwelling could be for her “4 youngsters, 40 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.”
It’s also his hope that they’ll “inform the world what sort of fighter” their matriarch was.
“You have got run your race and fought an unbelievable combat! Journey effectively my pricey woman,” he wrote, including, “You have got impressed me.”
Wright’s homegoing service can be held at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church on Hilton Head Island on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at 11 a.m. EST. The household will present a hyperlink for individuals who can not make it in public to observe on a stream.
