National Grandparents Day on September 13, 2026, offers a moment to reflect on the enduring legacies passed down through song, story, and service. One such legacy is that of legendary singer-songwriter Bill Withers, whose beloved song ‘Grandma’s Hands’ has been transformed into a 32-page children’s book by his wife, Marcia Withers, and daughter, Kori Withers. Released in July 2023, the book brings Withers’ heartfelt tribute to his grandmother to a new generation, celebrating the love, wisdom, and strength of grandmothers everywhere.
Originally released in 1971 on Withers’ debut album ‘Just as I Am,’ ‘Grandma’s Hands’ resonated deeply as an ode to his grandmother’s comforting presence and lasting influence. The single climbed to No. 18 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart and No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100. Now, with illustrations by multiple award-winning artist R. Gregory Christie, the book evokes warmth, memory, and unconditional love, tapping into the universal bond between grandparents and grandchildren. It is more than art—it’s a tribute that visually narrates the song’s tender message.
But the Withers family’s efforts extend beyond publishing. They have kept Bill’s values alive through community engagement and music education. Marcia Withers serves on the board of the Stuttering Association of the Young (SAY), which honored Bill in 2007, and in June 2025, she accepted an award for Bill from Generations United, a Washington DC-based organization advocating for inter-generational families. The family has also established music education scholarships and supports emerging songwriters through the annual Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Bill Withers Scholarship.
Kori Withers, a singer-songwriter herself, carries forward her father’s compassionate spirit. She has performed his songs at events such as a recent concert benefiting Free Horse Arts, a nonprofit offering equine-assisted programs for individuals with diverse abilities—a cause reflecting Bill Withers’ lifelong empathy and Kori’s own connection to restorative community initiatives. Her work with Free Horse Arts runs deeper as she serves on its board, honoring the bond with nature that shaped her father’s inner life.
The book is available at https://grandmashandsbook.com, and the BulLion Foundation, a nonprofit, multi-cultural global initiative, continues to provide underprivileged people, especially youth, with opportunities and resources to create healthy and stable lifestyles through arts, music, sports, and other disciplines. This combination of art, performance, and service demonstrates how love endures—a lesson particularly poignant as families across the nation celebrate Grandparents Day.
