Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson, Indiana
N. G. LEWIS
DIED DEC. 21, 1869
AGED
69 Y. 10 M. 7D.
The rounded-top white marble gravestone of N. G. Lewis depicts the hand of God holding a broken chain. The broken link of chain represents a life that has ended. This symbolism dates back to medieval times when people believed that the soul could be held to the body by a golden chain. Once the chain was broken, the soul took flight and rose from the body leaving Earth and ascended to Heaven. Here there are three links in the chain which represents the Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Gravely Speaking 
What resource are you using for your interpretation? This is the first time I’ve seen this linked to the Medieval but there’s not really much out there, in general.