--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ultimate symbol of our religious…" description: "\"“The ultimate symbol of our religious devotion isn’t our churches, though it’s often beside them. In the South, we understand cemeteries as our final r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/deborah-ford-5148_family-history_the-ultimate-symbol-of-our-religious-dev_466084.jpg" --- # The ultimate symbol of our religious devotion isn’t our… ![“The ultimate symbol of our religious devotion isn’t our churches, though it’s often beside them. In the South, we understand cemeteries as our final reward, and as Grits, we understand the importance of keeping them in shape. We visit the graves of our ancestors often, especially on a Sunday, and…” quote by Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/deborah-ford-5148_family-history_the-ultimate-symbol-of-our-religious-dev_466084.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/deborah-ford-5148_family-history_the-ultimate-symbol-of-our-religious-dev_466084.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c24/deborah-ford-5148_family-history_the-ultimate-symbol-of-our-religious-dev_466084.jpg) > ““The ultimate symbol of our religious devotion isn’t our churches, though it’s often beside them. In the South, we understand cemeteries as our final reward, and as Grits, we understand the importance of keeping them in shape. We visit the graves of our ancestors often, especially on a Sunday, and pray for their souls. We picnic in Confederate cemeteries, with their weather-worn memorials, and remember the sacrifices and sins of our past. Cemeteries are sacred ground in the South. They are the place where faith, family, history, and community meet. We can’t think of a better definition of the true power of Southern religion.”” [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Southern cemeteries symbolize a blend of faith, heritage, and community, reflecting how the South honors ancestors and history through sacred spaces. **In simple terms:** Cemeteries show faith, history, and community together. Key Takeaway Respect and preserve these sites. Themes faith heritage community memory ritual Mood reflective nostalgic Type cultural observational When to use this quote - Family gatherings - Sunday prayers - Historical tours - Community events Key Concepts Southern identity sacred space collective memory Questions to Reflect On - How do these spaces shape personal identity? - What responsibilities arise from preserving them? A Different Perspective May overlook the pain of past conflicts tied to those sites. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cemeteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cemeteries/) [Cemeteries Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cemeteries-sacred-4039512/) [Confederate Cemeteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confederate-cemeteries-4039514/) [Family history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-history/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Southern Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-religion-3414143/) [True power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-power/) [Understand Cemeteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understand-cemeteries-4039513/) ## Related quotes > [Slavery destroys, or vitiates, or pollutes, whatever it touches. No interest of society escapes the influence of its clinging curse. It makes Southern religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hinton-rowan-helper/slavery-destroys-or-vitiates-or-pollutes-whatever-it-touches-no/) [Hinton Rowan Helper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hinton-rowan-helper/) > [The only people without problems are in cemeteries. If you don't have problems, get on your knees and pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-only-people-without-problems-are-in-cemeteries-if-you-don-t-have/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Some lawns have all the cheer of old cemeteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brookhiser/some-lawns-have-all-the-cheer-of-old-cemeteries/) [Richard Brookhiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brookhiser/) > [“They ought to bury people in hospitals and let sick people get well in the cemeteries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zindel/they-ought-to-bury-people-in-hospitals-and-let-sick-people-get-well/) [Paul Zindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zindel/) > [“And when my spirit wants no stimulus or nourishment save music, I know it is to be sought in cemeteries: the musicians hide in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/and-when-my-spirit-wants-no-stimulus-or-nourishment-save-music-i-know/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [Museums are the cemeteries of the arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-de-lamartine/museums-are-the-cemeteries-of-the-arts/) [Alphonse De Lamartine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-de-lamartine/) > [Nowadays, many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At cemeteries across the country, the graves of the fallen are sadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/nowadays-many-americans-have-forgotten-the-meaning-and-traditions-of/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [I've always loved cemeteries since I was a kid. They're very calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britne-oldford/i-ve-always-loved-cemeteries-since-i-was-a-kid-they-re-very-calm/) [Britne Oldford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britne-oldford/) > [“..:The greatest treasures, are burried in the cemeteries. Untold stories. Undeveloped programs, quotes, notes, books, inventions, antidotes that could of saved so many lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-garcia/the-greatest-treasures-are-burried-in-the-cemeteries-untold-stories/) [Rafael Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-garcia/) > [Many of the cemeteries are beautiful, and are kept in perfect order. When one goes from the levee or the business streets \[of New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/many-of-the-cemeteries-are-beautiful-and-are-kept-in-perfect-order/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Cemeteries have always had a lure for me. They are well kept, free from ambiguity, logical, virile, and alive. In cemeteries you can summon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-grass/cemeteries-have-always-had-a-lure-for-me-they-are-well-kept-free-from/) [Gunter Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-grass/) > [“When things get too much for me, I put a wild-flower book and a couple of sandwiches in my pockets and go down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mitchell/when-things-get-too-much-for-me-i-put-a-wild-flower-book-and-a-couple/) [Joseph Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mitchell/) > [“I don’t even like cemeteries. Morgues, either, nor anatomy museums, undertakers’ parlors, funeral chapels, or any of those places where the world of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizaveta-mikhailichenko-and-yury-nesis/i-don-t-even-like-cemeteries-morgues-either-nor-anatomy-museums/) [Elizaveta Mikhailichenko and Yury Nesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizaveta-mikhailichenko-and-yury-nesis/) > [“I hear nothing. I hear nothing, but what does it mean that I hear nothing? I walk in the cemeteries of this city at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-hear-nothing-i-hear-nothing-but-what-does-it-mean-that-i-hear/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“The harbour of influence is richer in the cemeteries where people are buried with their music on their tongues unsung. Don't leave your potentials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-harbour-of-influence-is-richer-in-the-cemeteries-where-people-are/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by Deborah Ford > [“ “Do Southerners laugh at different things than Northerners do? Yes, I say--Northerners.” Roy Blount, Jr., Roy Blount’s Book of Southern Humor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/do-southerners-laugh-at-different-things-than-northerners-do-yes-i/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“Grits Glossary blues \\’blüz\\ n: nothing but a good man singing about hardship, sorrow, and the things he’s done wrong--but sake’s alive, they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/grits-glossary-blues-bl-z-n-nothing-but-a-good-man-singing-about/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“ “In the South, football is confused with religion, chivalry, the Civil War, and women.” -Diane Roberts, The Quotable South ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/in-the-south-football-is-confused-with-religion-chivalry-the-civil/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“ The Grits Guide to Southern Humor “If you don’t make fun of yourself, somebody is going to do it for you.” -Martie Maguire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/the-grits-guide-to-southern-humor-if-you-don-t-make-fun-of-yourself/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“ A Grits girl treated without TLC may end up a PMS…a Precious Moody Southerner! ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/a-grits-girl-treated-without-tlc-may-end-up-a-pms-a-precious-moody/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“ If the sweet lilt of a soft Southern accent isn’t music to the ears, we just don’t know what is. Music isn’t just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/if-the-sweet-lilt-of-a-soft-southern-accent-isn-t-music-to-the-ears/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“ Redneck Rules of Etiquette • To avoid bruising wine as you decant it, make sure to tilt the paper cup. • Your centerpiece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/redneck-rules-of-etiquette-to-avoid-bruising-wine-as-you-decant-it/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“Grits Pearl of Wisdom #13: If anyone tries to tell you a Southern girl shouldn’t drink, just tell them the truth: we don’t drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/grits-pearl-of-wisdom-13-if-anyone-tries-to-tell-you-a-southern-girl/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“Grits Pearl of Wisdom #39: It’s been said that love makes the world go round. That may be true, but friendship keeps the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/grits-pearl-of-wisdom-39-it-s-been-said-that-love-makes-the-world-go/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“If you’re single and you’re not having the greatest fun of your life, it’s high time to reassess your priorities. It may be hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/if-you-re-single-and-you-re-not-having-the-greatest-fun-of-your-life/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“ “The biggest myth about Southern women is that we are frail types--fainting on our sofas…nobody where I grew up ever acted like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/the-biggest-myth-about-southern-women-is-that-we-are-frail-types/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“Grits Glossary hillbilly \\’hil-,bi-lē\\ n: a derogatory term that refers to people living in the next county or town; alternate forms include redneck, cracker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/grits-glossary-hillbilly-hil-bi-l-n-a-derogatory-term-that-refers-to/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“Entertaining is a way of life for the Southern girl. We’ve been doing it for over three hundred years now, and we’re not too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/entertaining-is-a-way-of-life-for-the-southern-girl-we-ve-been-doing/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“ Men are important to Southern girls, but they don’t define us. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/men-are-important-to-southern-girls-but-they-don-t-define-us/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“Finding and keeping a lifelong partner is a common dream of all girls, everywhere. Women love men (well, most of us, anyway--Ellen DeGeneres is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/finding-and-keeping-a-lifelong-partner-is-a-common-dream-of-all-girls/) [deborah ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) [Explore all 103 Deborah Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) ## More Cemeteries quotes > [The only people without problems are in cemeteries. If you don't have problems, get on your knees and pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-only-people-without-problems-are-in-cemeteries-if-you-don-t-have/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“I hear nothing. I hear nothing, but what does it mean that I hear nothing? I walk in the cemeteries of this city at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/i-hear-nothing-i-hear-nothing-but-what-does-it-mean-that-i-hear/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“I don’t even like cemeteries. Morgues, either, nor anatomy museums, undertakers’ parlors, funeral chapels, or any of those places where the world of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizaveta-mikhailichenko-and-yury-nesis/i-don-t-even-like-cemeteries-morgues-either-nor-anatomy-museums/) [Elizaveta Mikhailichenko and Yury Nesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizaveta-mikhailichenko-and-yury-nesis/) > [“When things get too much for me, I put a wild-flower book and a couple of sandwiches in my pockets and go down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mitchell/when-things-get-too-much-for-me-i-put-a-wild-flower-book-and-a-couple/) [Joseph Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mitchell/) > [Cemeteries have always had a lure for me. They are well kept, free from ambiguity, logical, virile, and alive. In cemeteries you can summon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunter-grass/cemeteries-have-always-had-a-lure-for-me-they-are-well-kept-free-from/) [Gunter Grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunter-grass/) > [Many of the cemeteries are beautiful, and are kept in perfect order. When one goes from the levee or the business streets \[of New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/many-of-the-cemeteries-are-beautiful-and-are-kept-in-perfect-order/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“..:The greatest treasures, are burried in the cemeteries. Untold stories. Undeveloped programs, quotes, notes, books, inventions, antidotes that could of saved so many lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-garcia/the-greatest-treasures-are-burried-in-the-cemeteries-untold-stories/) [Rafael Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-garcia/) > [I've always loved cemeteries since I was a kid. They're very calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britne-oldford/i-ve-always-loved-cemeteries-since-i-was-a-kid-they-re-very-calm/) [Britne Oldford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britne-oldford/) > [Nowadays, many Americans have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At cemeteries across the country, the graves of the fallen are sadly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/nowadays-many-americans-have-forgotten-the-meaning-and-traditions-of/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [Museums are the cemeteries of the arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-de-lamartine/museums-are-the-cemeteries-of-the-arts/) [Alphonse De Lamartine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-de-lamartine/) > [“And when my spirit wants no stimulus or nourishment save music, I know it is to be sought in cemeteries: the musicians hide in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/and-when-my-spirit-wants-no-stimulus-or-nourishment-save-music-i-know/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“They ought to bury people in hospitals and let sick people get well in the cemeteries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zindel/they-ought-to-bury-people-in-hospitals-and-let-sick-people-get-well/) [Paul Zindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zindel/) > [Some lawns have all the cheer of old cemeteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brookhiser/some-lawns-have-all-the-cheer-of-old-cemeteries/) [Richard Brookhiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brookhiser/) > [“The harbour of influence is richer in the cemeteries where people are buried with their music on their tongues unsung. Don't leave your potentials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-harbour-of-influence-is-richer-in-the-cemeteries-where-people-are/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“You're a witch, she reminded herself. You should love cemeteries. They're probably your natural habitat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/you-re-a-witch-she-reminded-herself-you-should-love-cemeteries-they/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) [Browse all 39 Cemeteries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cemeteries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The ultimate symbol of our religious devotion isn’t our churches, though it’s often beside them. In the South, we understand cemeteries as our final reward, and as Grits, we understand the importance of keeping them in shape. We visit the graves of our ancestors often, especially on a Sunday, and pray for their souls. 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