Beckley, WV—A palpable warmth, a “Lovely Day” made real, settled over the large crowd gathered at the Beckley Intermodal Gateway today. The occasion? The unveiling of a bronze statue honoring the city’s own, the soul-stirring singer-songwriter Bill Withers. Decades after his timeless anthems first graced the airwaves, Withers’ spirit accompanied by his wife and children, returned home, cast in bronze, to a city that proudly claims him as its heart.
The event, a culmination of years of a collective and dedicated effort, transformed the Gateway’s rooftop into the newly christened Bill Withers Plaza. The air thrummed with anticipation as locals, fans, and Withers’ family members assembled, a testament to the enduring power of music.
The statue, a striking likeness of Withers, captures the quiet dignity that defined his persona. Crafted by the talented sculptor, Reverend Frederick Hightower, the sculpture stands as a powerful reminder of the man who gave the world “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean on Me,” and “Grandma’s Hands.”
The unveiling itself was a moment of collective breath-holding. As the tarp fell away, a wave of applause and cheers erupted, proceeded by the poignant sound of the Beckley-Stratton Middle School choir performing “Lean on Me.” It was a moment that transcended generations, a reminder of the unifying power of Withers’ music.
Marcia Withers, Bill’s wife, addressed the crowd, her voice filled with gratitude. “Bill never forgot where he came from,” she said. After listing his numerous accolades she said that this one meant the most. “Bill once said in an interview ‘In life, you’ve got two choices. You’re either meaningless, or you’re meaningful.’ I think this statue and the naming of this plaza by his hometown, indeed reinforce that he was meaningful.”
The Bill Withers Plaza isn’t just a statue; it’s a vibrant, living tribute. The space features musical playground equipment and interpretive signage, ensuring that future generations will discover and connect with Withers’ remarkable story.
One of the people involved with pushing this project forward was Born & Bred’s 2024 Folk Artist of the Year, Matt Mullins. Of the unveiling Mullins said, “It’s turned into my life’s biggest passion just to see that this happened. We started this thing seven years ago. As we talked about it, the task seemed like it was impossible. Beckley needs so bad, some positive influence, and who better than Bill Withers. This is the beginning and I think it’s gonna snowball and more people are gonna be here and spend tourist dollars and they’re gonna see that Beckley’s a cool place to be.”
Mullins had the pleasure of backing Withers’ daughter Kori as she sang a beautiful version of his song “Grandma’s Hands.” Before singing Kori, who was in attendance along with her brother Todd, spoke about her father and the importance of West Virginia to his music saying “We need this home to come to, to understand the worlds that are in dad’s music. He was so inspired by nature and this landscape. For anyone who loves dads material you can’t understand it if you don’t come here.” She continued “You cannot buy this air, you cannot google the mountains. You can’t YouTube the people. You have to be here.”
As the event drew to a close, and the sun began to set over the West Virginia hills, the echoes of “Lean on Me” lingered in the air. Bill Withers, the son of Slab Fork, had come home, and Beckley had embraced him with open arms.
