| MEANINGS OF GRAVESTONE SYMBOLS |
|---|
| SYMBOL MEANING |
| ACORN Prosperity; power; triumph |
| ANCHOR; SEXTANT Mariner |
| ANVIL AND HAMMER Blacksmith |
| BASKET Fertility; maternal bond |
| BIRD Flight of the soul |
| CANDLE Life |
| COLUMN/PILLAR (BROKEN) Life cut short; sudden death |
| EVERGREEN Faithfulness; remembrance |
| FERN Sincerity; humility; solitude |
| FRUIT Eternal plenty |
| IHS MONOGRAM Christian; name of Jesus |
| KEY Knowledge; entrance into heaven |
| LAMP Knowledge; spiritual immortality |
| LILY Innocence, purity, and the resurrection (Easter); marriage and fidelity (calla); innocence and humility (lily-of-the-valley) |
| OAK LEAF Strength; stability; endurance |
| OLIVE TREE Peace; reconciliation between God and man |
| PALM Life conquering death |
| PLOW; HOE; RACK; Farmer STALK OF CORN;SHOCK OF WHEAT |
| ROSE Love; beauty; virtue; strong bond (intertwined); youthful death (rosebud) |
| SPHINX Courage; honor; power |
| TREE-SHAPED Possible member of the Modern Woodmen of America or Woodmen of the World fraternal organization member |