A 93-Year-Old South Carolina Woman Is Fighting To Keep A Development Company From Seizing Her Property, Tyler Perry And Other Celebrities Help

A South Carolina 93-year-old woman and her family need all the help they can get after a parsimonious development company harassed the grandmother for refusing to give up the home her family had owned since the end of the Civil War. Director and actor Tyler Perry and other celebrities are offering to help.

According to WSAV, Baily Point Investment Group is constructing its new residential subdivision behind 93-year-old Josephine Wright’s Hilton Head home on Jonesville Road. But, they claim they own part of Wright’s property and have the proof. Furthermore, they alleged that some of her properties hindered them from doing construction work, from her satellite dish and shed to her back porch.

Her family argued the property was hers and that she had been paying taxes on it for years.

Furthermore, Wright agreed to take down her shed, which cost nearly $2,000, and she removed her satellite dish. But her back porch remained because she, her family and her neighbors argued her porche was 22 feet from the road.

However, Wright knows this is all about them wanting to take her home away, but she’s not going down without a fight.

“I guess they figured I would become so unnerved with the harassment that I would say take it. But they don’t know me. I am here to fight for what I have,” Wright clarified.

She continued, “I don’t want to say anything that can be used against me, but I think they are unscrupulous and greedy, and they want all the property they can get their hands on.”

Kelly LeBlanc, a member of the newly formed Jonesville Preservation Society supporting Wright, discovered that the town approved Baily Point Investment Group’s 147-unit development without communicating it with those the construction may impact. 

“We don’t have the right to change what has already been approved; that ship has sailed. We can’t change the zoning,” LeBlanc told WSAV. “The town is looking very closely at the permitting, at the approval phase. The town is making sure it is done to the letter of the law.”

Wright has her family, neighbors and former State Rep. Bakari Sellers support. They’re asking people to call lawmakers and the developer to help the 93-year-old keep her property.

Tyler Perry shared her story on his Instagram and asked where and what she needed him and others to show up and do to help with her fight.

According to the GoFundMe page created by Wright’s granddaughter, Charise Graves, Wright is grateful for all the support and kind words. The campaign has gained over $160,900. The goal is $250,000.

NBA player Kyrie Irving donated the most amount, $40,000.