A memorial isn’t just a tribute to the person who has passed — it’s a piece of family history that future generations will reference when researching their ancestry. The information included on a memorial matters beyond the immediate family.

What to Include

Full legal name, birth and death dates, and birth location are the genealogical basics. Military service branch and dates, marriage date if appropriate, and any fraternal or religious affiliations are additions that researchers a century from now will value. Some families include a brief epitaph that captures character or belief.

Accuracy Is Permanent

Engraving errors are difficult and expensive to correct on granite. Before any production begins, verify every date and spelling against official records. Death certificates and birth certificates are the authoritative sources. Social Security Death Index information and vital records are useful cross-checks.

Connecting Digital and Physical Records

Services like Find A Grave and BillionGraves allow families to upload memorial photographs linked to genealogical databases. Adding your family’s memorial to these platforms extends its value as a historical record and makes it discoverable to distant relatives researching family history worldwide.

Blackmon Memorials ensures accuracy through multiple verification steps before fabrication. We take as much time as you need to confirm every detail.