Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family
history through old photographs.
This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt does my heart good.
Cemeteries. Glorious cemeteries! If you’re a family historian, you are required to love cemeteries.
It’s a rule, trust me, and I follow it devotedly. Small family cemeteries tucked into a
corner of a field or fenced off next to a highway always demand my attention.
Large cemeteries are equally fascinating because they represent entire families
and communities. I wanted to write about my favorite cemetery, but I just could
not slight the others, each of which has its own personality and charm.
Instead, let’s look at the symbolic carvings of my relatives’ and ancestors’
tombstones.
ARCHES represent a doorway to salvation as well as being
rejoined with a partner in heaven.
 |
| John Jollett and Sarah Elizabeth Smith Jollett Jollett Cemetery, Page Co, VA |
 |
| Susan Clementine Shiflett and Austin Morris Evergreen Cemetery, Greene Co, VA |
 |
| JohnWesley Rucker Elk Run Cemetery Elkton, VA |
 |
| Benjamin and Fleeta Davis Elk Run Cemetery Elkton, VA |
The Davis stone combines other symbols including praying hands and flowers.
 |
| Ben Davis's sister Cora Davis Elk Run Cemetery, Elkton, VA |
BIRD / DOVE is the messenger of God. A bird in flight
represents the soul being transported to heaven. A dove holding an olive branch
symbolizes the soul reaching divine peace.
 |
| Mary F. Davis Elk Run Cemetery Elkton, VA |
BROKEN BUD is used on graves of someone who died an
untimely or premature death, usually a young person. In this case, the grave is that of Mary, the sister of Cora and Ben Davis. The graves of Cora and Mary are back to back.
CHI-RHO (XP) is one of the oldest Christian symbols. The
X and P or Chi and Rho are the first two letters in the Greek word for Christ.
The symbol is set in a circle which is another motif of gravestones signifying eternal
life because circles have no beginning and no end.
 |
| Anthony Jacob Henkel St. Michael's Lutheran Church Philadelphia, PA |
DOUBLE STONES are an obvious suggestion of being united
with a partner in heaven.
 |
| Richard and Rosa Lee Slade Olive Branch Cemetery Portsmouth, VA |
 |
| Margaret and "Jack" Srott Forest Lawn Cemetery Norfolk, VA |
My grandaunt Margaret Killeen Sprott's tombstone combines several symbols in addition to the double stones. The heart is an obvious symbol of love. Margaret's stone includes the Christian cross denoting her Christian faith. Jack's stone includes the square and compass signifying he was a member of the Masons.
FLOWERS represent the brevity of life and sorrow. Some
flowers have other specific meanings.
DAFFODIL because it blooms in spring is sometimes used to
represent rebirth and resurrection.
 |
| Ben and Bertha Knight Shifflett Evergreen Cemetery, Greene Co, VA |
DOGWOOD is symbolic of Christ’s sacrifice (the dark edges
on the petal correspond to the blood shed on the cross) and rebirth. Thus it is
a resurrection symbol for new life in heaven.
 |
| Thelma Hockman and Lacy Sarver Sunset Cemetery Christiansburg, VA |
 |
| William J. Sampson Stanardsville Public Cemetery Stanardsville, VA |
LAUREL is a common symbol of victory and distinction, so
in death it denotes victory over death, therefore, immortality.
 |
| Annie Eppard Hensley Cemetery Rockingham Co, VA |
 |
| James Henry Jollett Harriston United Methodist Church Cemetery |
MORNING GLORY represents the beginning of life. For Christians,
life in heaven is the beginning.
 |
| Frank Rucker Coverstone Cemetery Shenandoah, VA |
ROSE is a common symbol on tombstones to represent beauty
and fullness of life. It can also indicate that a person died in the prime of life.
SUNFLOWER OR PASSION FLOWER means devotion to Christ. In
this tombstone, it is set in a circle, which represents eternal life.
 |
| Charles W. Eppard Coverstone Cemetery Shenandoah, VA |
LAMB is almost always reserved for graves of children
because of its association with purity and innocence.
 |
| Daisy Clift Coverstone Cemetery Shenandoah, VA |
 |
| Vernon Clift Coverstone Cemetery Shenandoah, VA |
PRAYING HANDS is seen as pious devotion or a request for
eternal life.
 |
| Russ and Hattie Kohne Cedar Hill Cemetery Mathias, WV |
SQUARE COLUMN usually tells a story. Often one family
member is featured on each side, typically a husband and wife. Columns signify
a noble life.
 |
| Daniel W. Eppard on the other side |
 |
| Amanda Eppard on one side |
 |
| Lourenna and Robert Bryan and son Jeremiah share this tombstone Dayton Cemetery Dayton, VA |
URN is a typical symbol of death because urns were and
still are used to hold ashes of those who have been cremated. The urn therefore
suggests the soul and mortality.
 |
| Hiram Oscar Eppard a column AND an urn Methodist Church Cemetery Shenandoah, VA |
I know you’re just dying to see what others have to say
about cemeteries at Sepia Saturday.
Wendy
© 2018, Wendy Mathias.
All rights reserved.
Thank you for a very interesting post. I never knew a lot of the symbols. I've always liked reading gravestones (my family think I am weird). A lot of this type of history and tradition is lost these days with most people opting for a cremation with maybe just a plaque on a wall commemorating their life.
ReplyDeleteRight. And many people scatter those ashes, so there is no real place to leave a marker.
DeleteGreat post Wendy, your ancestors have a wonderful array of headstones! Hugh numbers of my family were buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, though their graves may not be visible in your 'challenge' picture – they were all too poor to have erected a surviving headstone.
ReplyDeleteI believe most of my oldest ancestors have only a field stone somewhere in the woods or in a field. Probably most of the stones have been kicked away by animals and unknowing hikers.
DeleteVery Interesting! I never thought about the meaning behind some of the symbols i’ve Seen on graves.
ReplyDeleteHey Paula. Thanks for stopping by. I will be paying more attention to tombstones myself!
DeleteGoodness, I never realised that there were was so much symbolism in cemeteries. I love wandering through old graveyards and reading the inscriptions and now I think I need a ‘what to look for’ information sheet with me next time I’m in UK. Ah, no need, I can look at your very interesting blogpost instead.
ReplyDeleteLots and lots more. If only my ancestors had used hands with fingers pointing up or fingers pointing down, or hands clasped in a handshake, you would be even better prepared for that next cemetery visit.
DeleteFascinating post about gravestone symbols, many of which I have seen during cemetery visits. Cora's and Mary's stones are particularly poignant and amazingly well preserved.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. I like their little stones, sad as they might be.
DeleteWhat a terrific post explaining all the symbolism in tombstones. Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteI have never considered the symbols on graves as being significant but on reflection after reading your post I now think they might be pareticularly for the older ones. I might have to go through some of the photos and see what else the gravestones might be trying to tell me. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think the designs were used on tombstones because of their meaning, but those who purchase the tombstones probably don't think about it much.
DeleteGreat post, Wendy! You have a lot of great examples of these symbols.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I didn't realize I had so many either until I started putting this post together. With all the online chatter about organizing your research, I'm thinking I need to create a folder for just tombstones.
DeleteThanks for compiling such a thorough collection of gravestone symbols, Wendy. Do you think the next generations will have markers with emojis and text-speak?
ReplyDelete:-) LoL
I think you're on to something. I am sure YOU could create some good ones for musicians. "Here lies So-n-So, fiddling around no more." "Here lies So-n-So, having blown his last note."
DeleteSo True Wendy. Every Graveyard Has It's Own Personality.It's Unique Feel.A Collective Atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteA Very Special Post.Thank You.
I know! Some cemeteries make me think, "Who wouldn't want to be buried here?"
DeleteWhat an interesting post. I think sometimes the surviving family members are expressing their own ideas and relationship with the deceased, rather than showing how that person actually lived and died. So as in all history, it's the survivors who write the stories.
ReplyDeleteI agree. In fact, I doubt anyone gives much thought to the design, except for maybe the lamb or an angel on children's tombstones. They pick what the "memorial store" has to offer. That's pretty - I'll take it.
DeleteI had no idea there was so much meaning to the symbols used on tombstones. My goodness. Just goes to prove you can always learn something new no matter how many years you've seen! :) Nice post!
ReplyDeleteThank-you muchly!
DeleteFascinating and extremely comprehensive post! I must admit I haven't taken much notice of grave decorations up until now, being usually more concerned with just managing to decipher the inscriptions.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya! Frustrating to try to FEEL the words or stand with your head cocked just so in order to capture the light or a shadow for a clue.
DeleteI too enjoyed reading about the meanings behind some of these symbols frequently found on tombstones. My best friend can't understand my enjoyment of meandering around a cemetery looking for my ancestors tombstones!
ReplyDeleteYep - What is wrong with people? HA!
DeleteIt's amazing you have such a variety of symbols on you ancestors' grave markers, Wendy! And you have so many grave stone photographs. I think it's interesting to see the symbols on the markers and try to see why each (especially if unusual or uncommon) was chosen for a specific ancestor.
ReplyDeleteIn researching tombstone symbols, I found lots of others that were quite interesting making me wish my ancestors had those symbols on their tombstones.
Delete