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Washington City Councilwoman Virginia Finnerty has organized an effort to raise money to have a statue of the late Washington Mayor Mac Hodges installed on Main Street.

Hodges died last August from complications of COVID-19.

A GoFundMe has been created with the goal of raising $45,000 to construct a statue that would sit between Copper Canyon Wellness and the Hotel Louise building. Click here to access the page.

“One of Mac’s dreams was to have a life-size bronze statue of George Washington sitting on a bench in the historic downtown area of Washington as a photo attraction,” a description on the site reads. ”… However, considering what a champion of Washington Mac was, how much he did for his cherished town and how friendly and beloved he was, it seems more fitting to have a statue of Mac to honor his memory.”

As of Thursday evening, $1,850 had been donated through the GoFundMe page. Donations can also be submitted by mail. All checks should be mailed to Virginia Finnerty, 400 E. Main St., Washington, N.C. 27889.

“This is a grassroots initiative,” the description says. “We’d like it to be a true community effort. We are reaching out to ALL who loved, respected and appreciated his dedication and hard work. We need to raise $45,000. This amount will cover the cost of the bronze statue, shipping, and installation costs.”

The City of Washington dedicated Mac “Bear” Hodges Festival Park, which was renamed in honor of the beloved mayor.