Happy Birthday in Heaven, honey! You're never forgotten.

Happy Birthday Kid! Always remembering you honey...

I can't believe you've been gone 5 years. I think of you every day. What i wouldn't give to hug you. So much good has happened in Ricky's life. I wish, as I'm sure he does, that you could share it all with him. Love you Matt.

This week has been a rough one and I've thought about you a lot, Matt. Not that I don't ever think about you but this week every little thing seems to remind me of you. I guess it's because its been 5 years even though sometimes it still feels like everything happened yesterday. I had a dream about when we were kids and we would ride around in my pink Barbie jeep together, how you could only drive it in reverse. It was simple but I woke up wanting to cry because I just miss you so much. There's so much I want to tell you and people who I want you to meet, I just hate that you're gone. Sometimes I get mad but not at you just that this ever had to happen and sometimes I get sad because a song reminds me of you or I hear someone on the phone that sounds like you. But mostly, I try to stay happy for you and for mom and for myself. I know we didn't always get along, we fought and spat and said terrible things sometimes but I also remember before you passed when you hugged me and told me that you loved me. You'll always be my baby brother and I'll always love you, I hope I live a life that makes you smile when we finally see one another again.

Happy Birthday Matt...Thinking of you often.

Happy birthday Matthew. I never got a chance to meet you but if your anything like your mom then I know you were awesome. Watch over your mom. She loves and misses you dearly

Happy Birthday Matthew Dean Little

Happy Birthday in Heaven,Matt! You'll never be forgotten!

Happy Birthday Matt....Rick,Ricky, & I are thinking of you often....We miss you terribly....Enjoy your Birthday in Heaven....

I miss you more and more. Someday I dont know how I will go on without you. Rest easy baby until I see you again. Love you so much

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Matt..I Miss you so much...

One Year....miss you, kid

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Matthew....Not a day goes by that i don't think about you. I MISS YOU! I'm so glad i baked that Birthday cake for you a few yrs. ago. Little did i know,it would be the only & last one i gave you. You will forever have a place in my heart. I love you!

I love you Pumpkin Head. I will be getting wild Tuesday night fo your birthday. I wish you were here. I'd kiss your forehead and pinch your butt and tell you how much I love you.

I remember a mother devastated by her loss. Here's to you precious son whose memory will live on forever! I love you Shirley Hemphill!

I miss you Matthew. So many awesome memories with you. From you trying to teach me to play smoke on the water on guitar, hanging out at Nini's, family gatherings, and seeing you down town. I am so happy to call you my cousin. You are an amazing person and had and still do have a big influence on my life. I can't believe that you are gone it makes me sad every day. I am so proud of you and everything you accomplished. Can't wait to see you again!

It doesn’t take much to notice that a lot of people are hurting from losing Matt. The boys were always rowdy and rebellious, but Matt was definitely the sweetheart of the bunch. I remember the first time we ever met he decided to sleep on Ben Eady’s porch when it was in the middle of Georgia winter. I wasn’t going to let that slide so it was a fight to get his hard headed self in the house. He didnt remember the incident in the morning, but we decided we should be friends regardless of the rocky start. So then the random messages about Tacos ensued along with discovering the same people that I loved so much and spent so much time with were the same ones he did. We only lived a mile away from each other at the time and had no idea. All we knew was that we both hated Warner Robins and needed to be in Macon.

The most recent event that I try to think hard about would be my last birthday. I always miss Macon and I always miss the boys here. We got a rental which was the Harwood Cottage, so we could all have a big space to hang out, drink and sleep. It was Matt, Ricky, Clayton, Lil’Matt, Chris, Bird (for a short period) and my friend Gabby. Just a couple of rowdy beer and bourbon drinkers who were trusted with a 6 bedroom fancy, historic house. All night we carried on about how it was a bad idea and everything in that house was worth way too much for us to be allowed around it. Matt was sweet as always when he got off work and made it over. I got a Happy Birthday Hale-dog and an apology he couldn’t plan a gift. He did, however, find a charm and give that to me as a replacement which I still have.

The boys picked on each other all night and we enjoyed a rather long game of circle of death. Matt was not down to play and cared more about controlling the music since Chris and I killed it with 90s country. All night while Matt was getting bugged for not playing I kept drunk yelling at the boys to leave him alone because he’s my favorite since he is never a jerk to me like them, ahaha.

Circle of death happened until almost 4am and it was so upsetting to know that it was coming to a close and I would be headed back to Atlanta the next day. I let Matt and Ricky have the huge master bedroom and they were so upset when I woke them up at 9:45am. Matt was grouchy and hungover and Ricky just let out some weird noises of refusal. Regardless, they were both still hilarious and I couldn’t help but start a morning humor rumor that they’re the cutest couple ever in their master bedroom (I was secretly upset I did not get the master since it was my birthday, but I love them so I let it slide. They shared the masters and both had the most terrible bed head in the morning. I have proof in pictures and I love them.)

Unfortunately Matt missed out on our big Athens trip, but we made up that time by having a get together at his apartment. Clayton irritated Matt by eating all of his dinosaur chicken nuggets (or maybe it was Ricky? We’ll never know) and ClydeFrog and I were too busy trying to force Rob Zombie youtube videos on everyone to care. Matt eventually got his chair, ClydeFrog and the music he wanted which made up for the chicken nugget disaster. Just an apartment full of sassy boys, ol’clydefrog, myself, and a few too many 30 racks that none of us even got close to finishing. We all eventually ended up commandeering the bedroom because it was the only room with a heater. So if you could imagine 4 people and a cat trying to figure that out when none of us are short or small – it was pretty dysfunctional.

Matt and I were suppose to go to Rob Zombie together. We were suppose to get wild, not mild, in the lawn section and scream living dead girl until our chests hurt.. but we didn’t get to.

A week before the concert, Matt and I spoke for the last time. The last thing we ever talked about was him reminding me that I am more than welcome to stay with him and ClydeFrog whenever I wanted to and that he wished I visited Macon more to see him and the boys. I told him I would take him up on the offer and soon we would plan another trip since he missed Athens for work.

I’ve never loved a group of boys so much in my life. At this point it never really felt like “my friends” sufficed when it actually felt like brothers. I hate that I am so far away from my family in Macon and that I do not get to visit as much as I used to be able to. I wish that Matt and I went to Rob Zombie as planned and I wish we were planning our next trip with Ricky, Clayton and Chris right now. But we cant.

But here’s to knowing that Matt is (not was) one of the sweetest, most kind-hearted, fun having, teasing taking, rowdy, funny, loving, rambunctious person I have ever met. I am so glad we crossed paths because a lot of nights would have not been the same.

I love you baby boy and one day I can not wait to hug you and Kolby again. Don’t worry; I’ll still punch Ricky and Chris when they start messing with you in any lifetime.

When Matthew and I first met, he referred to me as "Dustyn's little sister". I think we were both unaware that one day we'd have a friendship of our own. His laugh was unbelievably infectious. I don't remember the moment that I went from being "dustyns little sister" to being a special person in his life, but I am forever grateful that it happened.

One year at Roo, him and I were inseparable. I'm pretty sure it was my first music festival. Everyone always got separated throughout the weekend, but he stayed with me the entire time. We shared food, water, a tent, and whatever else was there for the weekend. He made me pallets next to the stage when I was ready to take a break. And held my hand through the crowds when we wanted to get lost in dance. My favorite moment was in the midst of a rave, in a large crowd, it was like it was just us and we were lost in our beautiful world. He had a way of making me feel like that. He was so caring, and when he loved you, he never let you doubt it.

I miss you Matthew.

Matt was such a nice guy...he was always kind to me... I saw him just a few months before his passing....it was the first time we had spoke since he was a teenager lol...it was like we never had quit talking..
I told him then how much I missed him... I hugged him and told him I loved him...and he smiled so big... I will always remember that smile
I will always remember his kindness.... I love you brotha... Go rest high on that mountain fat matt...

There was the time Ricky went to Bonnaroo with him, & took pics. I put them up on facebook, & he had a fit! He was so high! I didn't notice.lol. I took them down.lol. I loved those pics!

Honestly, the things i remember the most are when he came over & Clayton & Matt wynn? were here, & thy'd be leaving to go some place. I'd always say, you boys be careful. Lock the doors,Don't smoke no wacky weed, & don't forget the condoms! He'd laugh like crazy, & tell me he loved me. "I Love you miss Jo-Ann".

Love and miss you so much! Your uncle Jamie took my Rob Zombie cd and won't give it back! Lol. I look forward to the day when I will see you again. Remember when God tells you and your music buds to tone it down a bit..no lip, not to mention nene is there too. Love you sweetie! I will talk to you later.♡♡♡♡♡♡ aunt bev

I miss you more everyday. You took a piece of my heart with you. I'll love you forever. "Wild not mild" Forever yours.

Man, I will miss the days of jamming with you. You were always a peaceful person, an old soul in a young body. I'm glad I had the chance to meet you.
I know you're jamming with Dwayne Allman and Berry Oakley right now.

Marty-

I love you Matt. I miss you so damn much and I'm less a person for it . I'll never have this. You, again

I miss you so much. I love you baby.

Love you always