Grave Symbols

Meaning

Anchor/Ships

Hope or Seafaring profession 

Angel, Flying

Rebirth, Resurrection

Angel, Trumpeting

Resurrection

Angel, Weeping

Grief and Mourning

Arch

Victory in death

Arrow

Mortality

Bird

Eternal life 

Bird, Flying

Resurrection 

Book

Representation of a holy book: i.e. the Bible

A pair of Holy Books on Mormon(LDS) headstones

Bible and Book of Mormon 

Three Holy Books on Mormon headstones

Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine & Covenants

Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates)

Nourishment of the soul; the church

Bouquets/Flowers

Condolences, grief, sorrow 

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 

Cherub

Angelic 

Coffin, Father Time, Picks/Shovels, Darts

Mortality

Columns and 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 

Dove

Purity, Devotion 

Dove, Flying

Resurrection 

Drapes

Mourning, Mortality 

Flame or Light

Life, Resurrection 

Flower

Fragility of life

Flower, Severed Stem

Shortened life 

Flying Birds

Flight of the Soul 

Fruits

Eternal plenty 

Full-Blown Rose

Prime of Life 

Garland or Wreath

Victory in death 

Grim Reaper

Death personified

Hand, Pointing Up

Pathway to heaven, Heavenly reward 

Hands, Clasped

The goodbyes said at death 

Hand of God Chopping

Sudden Death 

Handshakes

Farewell 

Harp

Praise to the Maker 

Heart         

Love, Love of God, Abode of the soul, Mortality 

Horns

The Resurrection 

Hourglass

Passing of time

Hourglass, Flying

Time flies

Imps

Mortality

Ivy

Friendship and Immortality 

Lamb

Innocence

Laurel

Fame or Victory 

Lily or Lily of Valley

Emblem of Innocence and Purity 

Lion

Courage, The Lion of Judah

Morning Glory

Beginning of Life 

Oak Leaves and Acorn

Maturity, Ripe Old Age 

Open Book/ Bible

Deceased Teacher, Minister, etc

Pall

Mortality

Palm Branch

Signifies Victory and Rejoicing 

Pick

Death, Mortality

Poppy

Sleep 

Portals

Passageway to eternal journey 

Rod or Staff

Comfort for the bereaved

Rooster

Awakening, Resurrection

Roses

Brevity of earthly existence 

Scythe

Death, The divine harvest

Seashell

Resurrection, Life everlasting, Life's pilgrimage 

Sheaf of Wheat

Ripe for Harvest, Divine Harvest, Time 

Skull

Mortality

Skull/ Crossed Bones

Death

Skeleton

Life's brevity 

Snake with Tail in Mouth

Everlasting life in heaven

Spade

Mortality Death 

Stars and Stripes around Eagle

Eternal Vigilance, Liberty 

Sun Rising

Renewed life 

Sun Shining

Life everlasting 

Sun Setting

Death

Thistle

Scottish descent 

Thistles

Remembrance

Tombs

Mortality

Torch Inverted

Life Extinct 

Tree

Life

Tree Sprouting

Life everlasting

Severed Branch

Mortality

Tree Stump

Life interrupted

Tree Stump w/Ivy

Head of Family - Immortality 

Tree Trunk

Brevity of life

Tree Trunk Leaning

Short interrupted life

Trumpeters

Heralds of the Resurrection 

Urn

Immortality

Urn with /Wreath or Crepe

Mourning 

Urn with Blaze

Undying Friendship 

Weeping Willow Tree

Mourning, Grief, Nature's lament 

Willows

Earthly Sorrow 

Winged Face

Effigy of the deceased soul, the soul in flight 

Winged Skull

Flight of the soul from mortal man

Wreath

Victory

Wreath on Skull

Victory of death over life 

Wheat Strands or Sheaves

The divine harvest 

Courtesy of Hinds County MS GenWeb