BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The legacy of West Virginia music legend Bill Withers will be honored today with the unveiling of a statue and plaza dedicated in his name.
The Bill Withers Statue Committee invites the community to attend the ceremony today, Friday, March 28, 2025, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway in downtown Beckley.
The event will feature several speakers and musicians, with students and staff from Beckley-Stratton Middle School performing Withers’ iconic song “Lean on Me” during the unveiling.
The 7-foot-tall statue, designed by artist Frederick Hightower of Excellent Images Creations, will stand as a focal point of the newly named Bill Withers Plaza.
In addition to the statue, the plaza will include two interpretive signs and musical playground instruments, which have already been installed.
Future enhancements will feature benches, picnic tables, and public art.
Bill Withers, born in Slab Fork, and raised in Beckley, became a globally recognized singer-songwriter, winning three Grammy Awards and earning induction into three Music Halls of Fame.
His timeless hits include “Lean on Me,” “Lovely Day,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Just the Two of Us,” and “Grandma’s Hands.”
Withers frequently returned to his hometown for Stratton High School reunions and maintained a second home at Glade Springs.
His wife, Marcia Withers, is expected to attend the ceremony.
