Benjamin Franklin Jones

August 8, 1824 – May 19, 1903

Mary McMasters Jones

March 13, 1829 – January 11, 1911

On the front of the Jones Family Mausoleum in the Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh are two Neo-classic female figures in flowing Roman or Greek robes.  The woman on the left holds an open book while the figure on the right has a closed book in her lap and one hand on a palm front and a wreath. 

The open book likely represents the Bible.  The other figure looks downward with one hand she holds a palm frond.  The palm frond is an ancient symbol of victory, dating back to Roman times when victors were presented with palm fronds. The palm fronds were also laid in the path of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. So, for many Christians, the palm represents righteousness, resurrection, and martyrdom, symbolizing the spiritual victory over death associated with the Easter story.  On her lap rest a closed book which most likely indicates a completed life.  Between the two women rests a wreath.  The wreath is round—a completed circle—symbolizing eternity.  A laurel wreath represents victory over death and dates back again to Roman times.

This motif has been found on the following monuments.

May “Mollie” Cash Neal

Born 1844, Louisiana

Died October 1894, aged 49-50

Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Neal

Born 1867, Louisiana

Died June 17, 1889, aged 21-22

The monument in the historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta of two women sitting next two each other was thought to be carved to represent a mother and a daughter.  The sculpture on the left is thought to represent May “Mollie” Neal, wife of Captain Thomas Benton Neal (born October 21, 1838, Pike County, Georgia—Died April 12,1902, aged 63, Fulton County, Georgia).

This monument is not an original—that is there are others that look similar, like the Frank and Mary Lang monument in the Fairview Cemetery in New Albany, Indiana.  The white marble monument is weathered and worn but is unmistakably the same.

Asleep in Jesus, blessed thought.

In memory of

Frank Lang

Died March 26, 1892

Aged 80 years

Mary C. his wife

Aged 77 years.

Philip Morris

1855 – August 24, 1907

Elizabeth Disston Morris

1881- 1956

The Morris monument in the Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.