This Is Where You Can Go In Michigan To See James Earl Jones One Last Time

The actor James Earl Jones's recent passing at 93 had all of us reflecting on all the different works he had perfected through the years. His roles in Fences, The Sandlot, Field of Dreams, The Lion King, and Star Wars just barely scratch the surface of this man's incredible career.

A few years ago we wrote about one group in Michigan that was trying to raise the money to erect a bronze statue of James Earl Jones in Manistee County :

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The project was dreamt up by the Arts and Cultural Alliance, who has tasked sculptor Bernadette Zachara-Marcos with recreating not only Jones but the late instructor Donald Crouch, who's credited with being a major contributor to Jones' stage acting, which was the foundation of his career.

This actually came to fruition late in 2023, and today you can visit this statue to not only see James Earl Jones one last time but also pay homage to him and his mentor outside of Kaleva Norman Dickson Public Schools. Superintendent Jakob Vieth touched on why never giving up in the face of adversity can lead to amazing things, as Up North Live originally reported:

At times, we may wonder why you keep doing it, and why you continue to sacrifice so much time and dedication to the profession. Well, today is that reminder of why you do it. Today is a celebration of your sacrifice, your leadership, mentorship.

James Earl Jones famously suffered from a serious form of stuttering that almost kept him from attempting to chase his dreams, however, his mentor helped him overcome his stuttering and helped him achieve his dreams of being a poet, actor, and all-around inspiration.