Grave Symbols And Their Meaning

Gravestones are something we seem to only know a little bit about. We know that they are in each graveyard, some look alike, some are simple, and others are very extravagant. We know that they will tell us the name and the dates of birth and death of the deceased.
But beyond this regular seeming information, they are also often decorated with beautiful carvings of symbols! And today we are going to find out what a few of these symbols mean!

Old Bethel Church

For this research, we visited the Bethel United Methodist Church Graveyard on 57 Pitts St. After taking a closer look at the history, I was surprised at what I found!

The first church in this place was a wooden church build in 1797. Only 55 years later it got relocated westwards for the new and bigger sanctuary we see today.
Astonishingly, in 1882 the wooden church got moved again, all the way to the other side of the street! To be found on 222 Calhoun Street, it is now known as Old Bethel Church.

Bethel United Methodist Church

But the graveyard is still in its old place with the Bethel United Methodist Church. Just as the church is kept in good condition, so is the graveyard! 

So let us take a closer look at the symbols and their meaning!

Crown With Cross

                  Crown With Cross 

A whole row of tombstones that connects the same symbol are lent against the church wall. They all share the symbol of a crown on a cross. 

This carving can mean the victory with Christ over death. This would make sense since the gravestone from the picture says Frances Rebecca Jones, widow of Dr. R. H. Jones. She already had to overcome the death of her husband. 

Additionally, it can illustrate the sovereignty of the Lord, so it can be assumed that these gravestones belong to former Lords or a family of higher status.

Cross in a Circle

Cross in Circle

Another version of the cross is the cross in a circle. It actually is a pre-Christian symbol but has been adopted along with its meaning. It represents eternity and never-ending existence. 

On this gravestone, it is a beautiful simplistic homage to Francis W. Capers, a former servant of the army.

Roses

Rose

Another symbol that can often be found here is the rose. This symbol generally stands for beauty, unfailing love, and hope. On this particular gravestone, the roses are in full bloom, which expresses the person dying in the prime of their life. Furthermore, the roses are without thorns, which is associated with the Virgin Mary. The symbols really do illustrate what is also written on the gravestone. In this case, it shows the resting place of 26-year-old Eva Lee, who certainly died too young.

Calla Lily

Calla Lily

Another flower I found was the Calla Lily. This extraordinary flower represents marriage and makes the grave marker look very special. 

On this gravestone, it represents the marriage of the deceased Rebecca Jane, who was the wife of C. U. Bateman.

Lamb

Lamb

A symbol representing a person who died even younger, the death of a child, is the lamb. 

It is a Christian symbol standing for purity, innocence, and Christ in his sacrificial role, embodying gentleness and humanity. It is also the most common animal symbol found on a child´s grave. 

Thereby, it can immediately tell you that it is a child´s grave, without you reading the inscription. (This also comes in handy like in my example, where you can not read the inscription anymore).

Dove and Wreath

Dove

An animal often found on cemeteries and graveyards as well, is the dove. It is an important Christian symbol representing the Holy Spirit. 

In this case, it could symbolize an ascending dove, representing the transport of the soul of the wife Anna to heaven.

Wreath

Additionally, there is a wreath on this tombstone. Generally, it is a symbol of victory and redemption. 

In this case it almost looks like a bridal wreath due to the bow and floral-like arrangement. Thereby, it would represent the grave of a bride, which corresponds with the inscription on the marker. 

Angel

Angel

A different winged symbol to be found is an angel. 

Angels are the guardians of the dead and they symbolize spirituality. They often help the soul of the dead on their way to heaven. 

The angel on this gravestone also holds its hand on its heart what can symbolize mourning. In this case, the affectionate, kind and indulgent soul of Elizabeth M. is gardened on its way to heaven. 

Draper

Draper

A symbol I personally have not seen before is the draper. 

It represents sorrow and mourning. Thereby, it can show the emotions of friends and family not only to other people but maybe also to the spirit of the deceased person.

On this gravestone, it shows the grief of the relatives of Rosa Mary,  the beloved wife of C. H. Muckenfuss.

Weeping Willow

Weeping Willow

For me, the weeping willow is my favorite tree because it is beautiful to look at. Therefore, I was very surprised when I saw this symbol on grave markers as well. 

It not only symbolizes nature´s lament but also sorrow and mourning of relatives. 

In this case, it was made for a man called James.

Overall, I was very surprised by all the different meanings behind the symbols. Furthermore, it shows how much thought families put into the grave markers of their family and loved ones. Thereby, the gravestones become a beautiful personalized memorial piece. 

I can really appreciate the work and it would be great to take them as an example. We should put just as much thought into the gravestones of our loved ones!

(another resource I used: "Stories Told In Stone: Cemetery Iconology" by Gaylord Cooper)