Tombstone meanings and symbols can lead to lots of interesting stories. Therefore research may take you into graveyards and cemeteries where knowing a little history will help you find deeper meanings hidden in the stones.
Tombstone Meanings Ignited my Passion for Story
Understanding the inscription on my great-grandfather’s headstone ignited my life long passion for true stories.
James died where he worked and my great-grandmother had that engraved on his tombstone. As you walk into the church yard it is hard to miss the east facing stone that reads; “Killed at the Halifax Shipyards”.
I asked my grandmother once why the word “killed” was used on the tombstone and she told me the family believed her father was murdered. The coroners report states he died from an accidental electrocution. No one believed it was an accident. Whether the intention was to kill my great-grandfather no one can say, but the family believed it all stemmed from a desire to prevent him from receiving a promotion. A promotion his wife would learn he earned via letter a few days after his death.
Regardless of the mystery surrounding her husband’s death, my great-grandmother wasn’t just sharing how he died. She carved an accusation into stone. The meaning of the engraving may lose its meaning over time but the message will stand long after I’m gone. And I love that.
I Love Visiting Cemeteries
I know this may sound insensitive, but one of my favorite places to explore is a cemetery. Reading inscriptions and speculating on their stories inspire my creative spirit. It is truly one of the best ways to learn a little about the town’s history and its ancestors.
Here, in Atlanta, I enjoy visiting the park-like Oakland Cemetery. This cemetery hosts a number of events each year to support the upkeep and restoration while making visiting a graveyard a wonderful memory.
Structure, Symbols and Engravings
I found I could learn a lot about tombstone meanings by studying structures and symbols. My great-grandfather’s headstone was an obelisk. In the early 1900’s, this nod to Egyptian culture carried the meaning of a strong foundation and fatherhood. I feel my great-grandmother took a stand the only way she could. She purchased an expensive marker and used the headstone to say what no one could prove. Standing in the small church yard the stone would have made quite a statement. It still does. Almost a 100 years later and I’m still fascinated by it.
Culture, time and fashion will change the meaning of some symbols. Use this list of headstone symbols and meanings curated by the International Association of Cemetery Preservationists to help get you started on your own research.
Blueskies,
Tami