Did You Know???
On many old tombstones you will find the wording, "Jane Doe, consort
of John Doe." This indicates that John was still alive at the time
Jane died. If the stone reads "Jane Doe, relict of John Doe," this
indicates that Jane's husband was already deceased at the time she
died.
Meaning of Headstone Carvings
Acorn - Baby or Young Child
Adam and Eve with Serpent and Fruit Tree - Quick Death
Anchor/Ships - Hope, "Anchor" of the family, or Seafaring Profession
Angel Carrying a Baby to Heaven
Angel, Flying - Resurrection or Rebirth
Angels - Safety in Spirituality
Angel, Trumpeting - Resurrection
Angel, Weeping - Grief & Mourning
Arches - Victory in Death
Arrows - Mortality
Bamboo - Buddha
Bed - At Rest
Biblical Sacrifice Scene of Abraham & Isaac with the Angel - Cut Down in Prime of Life
Bird, Flying - Resurrection
Birth - Eternal Life
Book - The Bible
Bouquets/Flowers - Condolences, Grief, Sorrow
Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates) - Nourishment of the Soul (by the church)
Broken Chain - Family Ties Broken, Early loss of life.
Broken Column - Loss of Head of Family
Broken Ring - Family Circle Severed
Buds/Rosebud - Morning of Life or Renewal of Life
Bugles - Resurrection and the Military
Butterfly - Short-lived; Early Death
Candle Being Snuffed - Time, Mortality
Castle - Reference to the Kingdom of Heaven
Cherub - Angelic
Clock - Symbol of the Passage of Time
Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels
Columns & Doors - Heavenly Entrance
Corn - Ripe Old Age
Cross - Emblem of Faith
Crossed Swords - High-ranking Military Person
Crown - Glory of Life After Death
Cup or Chalice - The Sacraments
Darts - Mortality
Deid Bell - The Bell Toll of Death
Dove - Innocence, Gentleness, Affection, Purity
Drapes - Mourning or Mortality
Figures with Dart - Killed
Flame or Light - Life or Resurrection
Flower, Severed Stem - Shortened Life or Fragility of Life
Flying Birds - Flight of the Soul
Fruits - Eternal Plenty
Full-Bloom Rose - Prime of Life
Garland or Wreath - Victory in Death
Gate - The passage from one realm to the next.
Grim Reaper - Death Personified
Hand of God Chopping - Sudden Death
Hand, Pointing Up - Pathway to Heaven or Heavenly Reward Photo
Hands, Clasped - Good-byes said at Death
Handshakes - Farewell Photo
Harp - Praise to the Maker
Heart - Love, Love of God, Abode of the Soul, Mortality
Hearts - Soul in Bliss or Love of Christ
Horns - The Resurrection
Hourglass - Swiftness of Time
Hourglass with Wings of Time - Time Flying, Short Life
Imps - Mortality
Ivy - Friendship and Immortality
Lamb - Innocence
Laurel - Fame or Victory
Lily or Lily of the Valley - Emblem of Innocence and Purity
Lion - Courage, the Lion of Judah
Morning Glory - Beginning of Life
Oak Leaves & Acorn - Maturity, Ripe Old Age
Open Book/Bible - Deceased Teacher, Minister, Etc.
Pall - Mortality
Palm Branch - Victory and Rejoicing
Pick - Death, Mortality
Poppy - Sleep
Portals - Passageway to Eternal Journey
Resurrection Scene - Hope for a Renewed Life in Death
Rod or Staff - Comfort for the Bereaved
Rooster - Awakening; Resurrection
Roses - Brevity of Early Existence
Roses: Full Blow - Prime of Life
Scroll - God's Book of Life
Scythe - Death or the Divine Harvest
Seashell - Resurrection, Life Everlasting, Life's Pilgrimage
Severed Branch - Mortality
Shells - Pilgrimage of Life
Sheaf of Wheat - Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest Time
Skeleton - Brevity of Life
Skull - Mortality
Skulls/Crossed Bones - Death
Snake (Tail in Mouth) - Everlasting Life in Heaven
Spake - Death
Spade & Shovel (crossed) - Mortality
Star - Spirits Rising (also Masonic attributes if five points)
Stars & Stripes Around Eagle - Eternal Vigilance, Liberty
Sun Rising - Renewed Life
Sun Setting - Death
Sun Shining - Life Everlasting
Thistle - Scottish descent
Thistles - Remembrance
Tombs - Mortality
Torch Upright - Life Everlasting
Torch Inverted - Life Extinct
Tree Sprouting - Life Everlasting
Tree - Life *Many stones carved in the shape of trees
represent the Woodsmen of the World.
Tree Stump - Life interrupted
Tree Stump with Ivy - Head of Family, Immortality
Tree Trunk, Leaning - Short Interrupted Life
Trumpeters - Heralds of the Resurrection
Urn - Immortality (life will be restored)
Urn with Blaze - Undying Friendship
Urn with Wreath or Crepe - Mourning
Weeping Willow Tree - Sorrow, Grief, Nature's Lament
Willows - Earthly Sorrow
Winged Effigies - Flight of the Soul
Winged Face - Effigy of the Deceased Soul; Soul in Flight
Winged Skull - Flight of the Soul from Mortal Man
Wreath on Skull - Victory of Death over Life
Wreath - Victory