A 94-year-old woman at the center of a legal battle with a developer over the preservation of her family's ancestral lands on the island of Hilton Head, S.C., has died.
Hilton Head matriarch Josephine Wright died Jan. 7 surrounded by her family and other loved ones, her granddaughter Charise Graves wrote on a GoFundMe page created to raise money for her legal battle.
The company that owns the development adjacent to her property, Bailey Point Investment, sued Ms. Wright in February 2023, alleging encroachment. The company said their satellite dish, shed and screened porch trespassed on their property, “significantly delaying and hindering” the development.
The lawsuit followed decades of land purchases that displaced black families with close ties to Hilton Head as the tourism scene grew, with golf courses and waterfront vacation homes. The situation could not initially be clarified on Tuesday. Lawyers for both sides could not immediately be reached for comment.
Ms. Wright previously told The Times that her husband inherited the 1.8-acre property from his parents and it was transferred into her name after his death in 1998. It was a meeting place and a place full of memories for Ms. Wright's seven children, 40 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 16 great-great-grandchildren.
“Her legacy as a pillar of strength, wisdom and commitment to justice will forever remain in our hearts,” Ms. Graves wrote of her grandmother.
Ms Wright's legal battle attracted the attention of celebrities including Snoop Dogg and Kyrie Irving. Snoop Dogg donated $10,000 to the fundraiser and Kyrie Irving donated $40,000.
Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry expressed his condolences to Ms. Wright's family in an Instagram post, saying he was “heartbroken” to hear of her death.
“You ran your race and fought an incredible battle!” he wrote. “Have a good trip, my dear lady. You inspired me.”