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HEADSTONE PHOTOS & INSCRIPTION IDEAS
Choosing the words for a loved one’s headstone is one of the most personal decisions you’ll make when arranging a memorial. As fourth-generation stonemasons with over 114 years of experience serving Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the surrounding areas, we’ve helped thousands of families find inscriptions that feel right; and we’ve gathered over 100 wording ideas below to help you find yours.
There’s no rush and no wrong answer. Take your time, and if you’d like guidance, our team is always happy to talk through your ideas, contact us or visit our showroom.
How to Structure a Headstone Inscription
Most headstone inscriptions follow a simple, time-honoured structure. Choose one option from each of sections 1–5, then add one or more personal messages from section 6:
- An opening phrase (e.g. “In Loving Memory of")
- The person’s full name
- Their relationship to you (e.g. “A Dear Husband, Dad and Grandad")
- The date they passed away
- Their age
- A personal message, verse or epitaph
Example of a complete inscription:
In Loving Memory of John William Smith A Dear Husband, Dad and Grandad Who passed away 2nd June 2026 Aged 70 Years “To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die"
- STARTING AN INSCRIPTION
- The Deceased Persons Name
- Your Relationship to the Deceased
- When the person passed away
- The Age of the Person
- A Personal Message to Your Loved One
STARTING AN INSCRIPTION
- In Loving Memory of
- Cherished Memories of
- Treasured Memories of
- With love We Remember
- Precious Memories of
- In Remembrance of
- To the Beautiful Memory of
- In Sincere Memory of
- Forever in Our Hearts
- Always Remembered
- In Loving Remembrance of
The Deceased Persons Name
Use the deceased’s full name, out of respect; some families also include a nickname in quotation marks:
- John William Smith
- John “Jack" William Smith
- Joanne Brown
Your Releationship to the Deceased
- A Dear Husband, Dad, Grandad, and Great Grandad
- A Loving Wife, Mother, and Grandmother
- My Dearest Wife
- A Devoted Husband
- Our Dear Parents
- Our Dearest Daughter
- A Beloved Son and Brother
- A Much Loved Mum and Nana
- A Treasured Father and Friend to Many
When the person passed away
- Died 2nd June 2006
- Passed away 23rd April 2006
- Who fell asleep 30th November 2006
- Called to rest 15th March 2026
- Taken from us 8th September 2026
The Age of the Person
- Aged 70 Years
- In her 70th year
- 1963-2026 ( birth and death years instead of age)
A Personal Message to Your Loved One
The character count (in brackets) can help you plan, as churchyards and cemeteries often limit inscription length and stonemasons typically charge per letter.
Short inscriptions (under 30 characters)
- Gone but not forgotten (19)
- Dearly loved, sadly missed (22)
- Forever in our hearts (19)
- At peace (8)
- Reunited (8)
- Until we meet again (17)
- A life well lived (15)
- Not lost to memory, not lost to love (28)
Traditional verses
- To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die (40)
- Gone are the days we used to share, but in our hearts you’re always there (57)
- Gone is the face we loved so dear, silent the voice we loved to hear (53)
- Her life a beautiful memory, her absence a silent grief (45)
- Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day (45)
- Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal (63)
- A bitter grief, a shock severe, to part with one we loved so dear. Our loss is great we’ll not complain, but hope in heaven to meet again (105)
- Those cheerful smiles, that heart of gold. The dearest voice the world could hold. A beautiful soul in a garden of rest; it’s true what they say: God chooses the best (126)
- My heart aches with sadness, tears they often flow. What it meant to lose you, no-one will ever know. Ever faithful, kind and true. Selfishness you never knew. Whatever else I fail to do, I shall always love and remember you (176)
Inscription Ideas by Relationship
Headstone Inscriptions for Mum
- A wonderful mother, grandmother and friend
- Her love made a home
- A mother’s love lives on forever
- She lived for those she loved
- Kind of heart and gentle of spirit
Headstone Inscriptions for Dad
- A quiet man with a heart of gold
- His strength and love guided us all
- A devoted father, our guiding light
- Always working, always caring
- Hard work and kindness were his way
Headstone Inscriptions for a Husband or Wife
- Together forever, in love and spirit
- My beloved, my heart’s greatest treasure
- Goodnight, God bless, my love
- A partnership of love that never ends
- Two lives, one love
Headstone Inscriptions for Grandparents
- Grandad — our hero, our friend
- Nana’s love lives on in all of us
- A lifetime of love and wisdom
- Always in our hearts, Grandma and Grandad
Headstone Inscriptions for a Child
- Too beautiful for this earth
- Held in the arms of angels
- Forever our precious child
- A little life, a lasting love
- Our darling, sleeping peacefully
Religious Inscriptions & Bible Verses
- The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23)
- Rest in the arms of the Lord
- In God’s keeping
- Peace, perfect peace
- Thy will be done
- Safe in the arms of Jesus
- At rest with the Lord
- “I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25)
INSCRIPTION EXAMPLES
Practical Advice When Choosing an Inscription
Check churchyard and cemetery regulations first. Church of England churchyards in particular often have rules on wording, and some restrict nicknames or informal phrases. Local authority cemeteries in Derby, Nottingham, Chesterfield and Mansfield each have their own guidelines. We handle all applications and approvals for you.
Length affects cost and readability. Inscriptions are typically priced per letter, and shorter wording is easier to read from a distance. Most headstones comfortably hold 60–90 characters for the personal message.
You can add inscriptions later. Many families add a second inscription when a spouse passes away, or a further tribute in later years. We offer additional inscriptions, renovations and cleaning with free quotes available.
Take your time. In most UK burial grounds, a headstone can’t be installed until 6–12 months after burial while the ground settles; so there’s no need to decide immediately.
Let Us Help You Find the Right Words
Cope Memorials is a fourth-generation family business with over 114 years of experience crafting headstones and memorials across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Whether you’re arranging a new memorial or adding an inscription to an existing one, our stonemasons will guide you through every step — including churchyard approvals.
Visit our indoor showroom (appointments available 7 days a week), call us on 01773 602187, or request a brochure.
Serving Derby, Nottingham, Chesterfield, Ripley, Heanor & Belper, Burton on Trent and Mansfield.
COPE MEMORIALS – HEADSTONES IN DERBYSHIRE & NOTTINGHAMSHIRE & SURROUNDING AREAS
Expert Stonemasons servicing Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire And Surrounding Areas
Welcome to Cope Memorials. We are a fourth generation family of memorial makers with over 110 years of experience in our trade. As highly-skilled stonemasons dedicated to crafting the highest quality headstones and memorials, we value our customers and always endeavour to provide an exceptional and considerate service each and every time.
Arranging the memorial of a loved one can be both overwhelming and confusing, which is why we are always on hand to offer expert knowledge and guide you through the process
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