The “domestication of death” that characterized 19^th Century attitudes toward death and the afterlife is visible in Oaklawn’s memorial statuary and grave art.  Some typical motifs are:

• The broken column, suggesting a life cutoff;

• Recumbent lambs, especially on children’s graves, symbolizing innocence;

• The draped urn, referencing both ancient burial practices and the veil between life and the afterlife;

• The sheaf of wheat, denoting a fruitful life and/or the harvest of souls;

• The rose, frequently seen on women’s graves, expressing purity and fragility;

• The weeping willow, a marker of immortal life;

• Ivy Vines, representing immortality and fidelity

• Fraternal emblems or mottos, indicating the decedent’s membership in Freemasonry, Woodmen of the World, Elks, or the American Legion.

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