Words on the six-foot marble slab in front of the gravestone:
IN THIS DAY OF FADING IDEALS AND DISAPPEARING LAND MARKS, LITTLE MARY PHAGAN'S HEROISM IS AN HEIRLOOM THAN WHICH THERE IS NOTHING MORE PRECIOUS AMONG THE OLD RED HILLS OF GEORGIA.
SLEEP, LITTLE GIRL; SLEEP IN YOUR HUMBLE GRAVE BUT IF THE ANGELS ARE GOOD TO YOU IN THE REALMS BEYOND THE TROUBLE[D] SUNSET AND CLOUDED STARS, THEY WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT MANY AN ACHING HEART IN GEORGIA BEATS FOR YOU, AND MANY A TEAR, FROM EYES UNUSED TO WEEP, HAS PAID YOU A TRIBUTE TO SACRED FOR WORDS.