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 The Georgia Monument Builders Association is offering free assistance with pre-need writing and editing of obituaries for the terminally ill and hospice patients. This complimentary service may be obtained through the Georgia Monument Builders Association web site at www.GAMonumentBuilders.com.
This service is an opportunity for our organization to give back to the community in areas where we have exceptional expertise. Our philosophy is simple: when obituaries are short, leaving out the details of a life well-lived, future generations are denied genealogical information important to establishing family lineage.
For assistance in writing your obituary, please e-mail Georgia Monument Builders Association president Burton Fletcher at Burton@GAMonumentBuilders.com, or call toll free (888) 978-2883 (888.9Statue).
 If possible, please provide your best first draft, preferably in Microsoft Word, with all family names for parents, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, aunts, uncles, including cities of residence for each. Also, provide your interesting life details, including: dates and names of long-term employers, residences, memberships, and occupational information. Identify major interests, awards, military service and the like. Inform others of your passions and your legacy.
I outlined some of the following remarks in a previous article, The Memorialist: Obituaries: Save a Dollar and Deny Future Generations, Valdosta Daily Times, Online Edition, August 1, 2005, which is available online at http://www.valdostamemorials.com/articles/articlecheap.asp. In that article, I wrote, “A well-written obituary shares information about the passions and the history of one’s life.”
Keys to a well-written obituary:
1. Prepare and Update Your Obituary: Prepare and update your obituary in advance of death.
2. Answer the Important Questions about Your Life: What was important to me? What did I give to the community? Who are my descendants?
3. Edit Your Obituary: Have your obituary edited by a competent editor who can help you recognize missing or unclear information and who can assist you with clarity.
4. Identify your Ancestors and Descendants: Identify the names of all descendants, and their spouses, allowing all generations to follow your lineage.
5. Consider Your Message to Future Generations: Consider the message your obituary is giving to future generations.
6. Include a Photo or Photos: Include a photo, or perhaps multiple photos, with your obituary, as this may be the only photo or photos available to future generations. The photograph can be from an earlier time in your life, if that is how you would like to be remembered.
7. Provide Written Instructions: Provide written instructions to your family and to your funeral home regarding your preferences for publication. You can make revisions to your obituary up until the point of your death.
Death is inevitable for all of us. Though it may be unpleasant to think about, writing your will and obituary and taking responsibility for pre-need funeral planning, along with funding and building a preneed memorial, are the actions of responsible people. Share your passions and the history of your life with the living and future generations of your family.
These actions allow you to maintain control over your life not only in the present but also into the future. As I have stated previously, “Remember, an obituary is more than an announcement of your funeral service; it is a memorial to your legacy for generations to come.” Do it now; after all, it is the right thing to do!
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