Located on Weathersby Lawn, in the heart of the Hattiesburg campus, the life-size bronze sculpture is the work of artist Ben Watts of Columbia, Miss. Commissioned by the USM Foundation Board of Directors as a gift to the University, the sculpture of McCarty was installed on October 6, 2020. An empty chair was designed and placed next to her. Visitors are invited to take a seat with her like many friends did over the years at her home on Miller Street in Hattiesburg.