ANDERSON, SC — Actor Chadwick Boseman was posthumously honored at a dedication ceremony in his hometown of Anderson where the Southwood Academy of Performing Arts Center was dedicated in his name on Friday.

Chadwick was cast in leading roles for major motion pictures, including Marvel’s “Black Panther,” the first Black superhero in a major comic book, as well as “Get On Up,” “42,” and more. He died at the age of 43 in August 2020 after battling colon cancer.

Friday’s dedication ceremony included the unveiling of a bust sculpture of Chadwick, with his parents Leroy and Carolyn Boseman in attendance at what will now be known as the Chadwick Boseman Fine Arts Center.

The idea to rename the center in honor of the late actor was presented by local community members in 2024.

Per Greenville News, on March 19, 2024, the Anderson School District Five’s board of trustees agreed to rename the Southwood Academy of Performing Arts Center after Boseman.

Chadwick’s parents also attended the school board meeting where they accepted a proclamation from Anderson School District Five Board of Trustees after they passed the resolution.

Community leaders and school officials lauded the renaming of the school, saying Chadwick’s legacy will continue to inspire new generations of artists in his hometown.

More on the bust sculpture unveiling and the school renaming for Chadwick Boseman.