By
Burton Fletcher
Most everyone would choose to personalize a monument to some
degree. In practice, though, many monuments tell us very
little beyond a name, date of birth, marriage, and death. In
my opinion, this is a shame.
Symbols on monuments, a topic for another article, tell us
about the deceased. But symbols alone only give a general
picture. However, used together, symbols, a porcelain photo,
and wording create a wonderful synergy. Porcelain photos is
also a topic for another article.
But let us discuss effective wording for a moment. You may be
surprised by how the addition of a few extra lines speaks
volumes about your loved ones.
Please consider this format, similar to what I have used for
my own family:
(Father’s name), (profession), and (Mother’s name),
(profession), were the parents of (number) children: (first
child’s name), (profession); (second child’s name),
(profession); . . . .
(Father’s name) was a talented (hobby). (Mother’s name) was a
talented (hobby). Both were dedicated to (children, church,
organizations).
We love you Mom and Dad.
Now, doesn’t this tell us much more? From these few lines, we
know about their children, professions, talents, and
affiliations. This is a special, personal tribute. Expanded
inscriptions also aid future generations with genealogy.
Inscriptions cost very little, and monuments usually have room
for additional wording. For example, backsides of monuments
are often left blank or only have a surname. Also, the
addition of a memorial bench provides an ideal space for
expanded inscriptions.
My best advice is to make a preneed purchase; don’t leave your
legacy to guesswork. You’ll be able to write your epitaph and
design your monument just as you’d like. We even employ an
editor to assist with epitaphs, if requested.
Burton Fletcher, with over 20 years business experience, owns
ValdostaMemorials.com. He is a licensed memorialist in Georgia and Florida. He enjoys genealogy and
visiting and studying Southern monuments. Reach Burton at
229.245.8858 or
Burton@ValdostaMemorials.com |
