Stones With Voices by Wendy Ledbetter Sometimes, headstones tell the purest stories, as is the case of that of the child of "died in the Antoine River, aged two years." More often, it takes some real research to fill in the blanks. And sometimes, despite the detective work, there are those deceased that refuse to give up their secrets. Consider the stone in the Okolona, Ark., public cemetery that reads, "Mrs. Crawford." The small monument appears fairly new and reveals nothing more than the name, but the inscription piques the imagination. Perhaps she was a teacher, known to her students and others in the community only as Mrs. Crawford. Maybe she left instructions that her stone would carry only these words. There seems to be no one left who remembers her and that may have been her intention all along. A large, ornate stone, especially from a century or more past, is often a sign of wealth and community status. I’m reminded of the marker of a young wife in Dobeyville Cemetery, near Arkadelphia, Ark. The stone is the largest in the cemetery and carries a wealth of information about her family. For the family researcher, cemeteries hold a wealth of information. Here are some common-sense tips for those who love to spend time searching for family history in cemeteries. 1. Spellings, dates and places provide a starting place, but should be double-checked. Both the person providing the information and the craftsman creating the stone are human and errors are possible. 2. Don’t forget to examine all sides of the stone. Children’s names and other information could be engraved on another face of the stone. Check the area. Family plots were common, especially in older cemeteries. 3. The stones themselves can offer some personal information in addition to the written words. Lambs are traditionally used on children’s graves, but other symbols might represent a favorite possession, animal or pastime. A career path or belief system could be represented. Hand clasped in prayer could be an indication of faith. Also note any symbols associated with organizations. Masons, Daughters of the American Revolution and some religious affiliations and personal accomplishments are often indicated with a medallion or icon. 4. Don’t overlook the significance of the stone itself. When dealing with sketchy information, consider that the craftsmanship of the stone could indicate membership in an organization or nationality, or could at least give a clue to the person who crafted the stone, thus indicating a time period and circumstances of its placement. It also could indicate the family’s financial status. 5. The place of burial is sometimes a clue in itself. Don’t assume it to always be the case, but interment could indicate an affiliation with a particular family, race, social status or faith. Unfortunately, headstones deteriorate and precious information is wearing away from the fragile inscriptions. There are several groups working to preserve headstones. For information on historic preservation efforts in your area or to organize an effort to clean up a cemetery, visit www savinggraves-us.org/. Sally Rolls Pavia Sun City, AZ sallypavia2001@yahoo.com ”Mankind owes to the child the best is has to give.” List Owner: GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES-L-request@rootsweb.com Archives: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/GENEALOGYBITSANDPIECES "All incoming and outgoing email checked by Norton Anti-Virus"