Greenberry Rayl
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Greenberry Rayl
Updated Oct 17, 2024
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Jeffery Griffis
34 favorites
04/17/2002
Comments
AncientFaces
373k+ followers 404 favorites
07/18/2018
Although some people now take "coffin photos", they aren't as common as they were in the past.
via Facebook
I have a several coffin photos of my fathers family. It was the “norm” for family members to take photos of their dearly departed. I grew up never thinking of it as odd. But now that I am an adult, I have learned that most of my friends don’t have photos of their dead family members in their photo albums. 🤷🏼♀️ Oh well, got to love them “southern” traditions.
via Facebook
Oh! Is it a Southern tradition? My gr grandmother was from Kentucky but died in Washington - I didn't associate the practice with a particular area. But maybe it is??
via Facebook
I to grew up in the south and thought nothing of it because it was something that was done .I also have pictures
via Facebook
My fathers family (for generations) was from Georgia, and it was something they all done. I have found through research that it was a common practice for southerners. But perhaps it was common for other areas as well. 🤷🏼♀️
via Facebook
I have one of my grandmother who lived in Alabama. It was the only photo I had of her for a long time. Then discovered one other. I think in some cases it was because no other pictures existed, and they wanted something to remember them by.
via Facebook
AncientFaces No my family also continues the practice of taking these photos and we're from Connecticut. I have a few of my relatives coffin photos as well as one of my granddaughter on her bier. Sometimes it's the only thing you have to remember and hold on to those you love.
via Facebook
Michelle Walker the only photo I have ever seen of my grandmother is her coffin photo. She died a couple years before I was born.
via Facebook
For some families it was probably the only photo of the deceased they had. I too remember.
via Facebook
My family is very southern, and never did this, as far as I know. .Never run across this in my very large family tree. My ancestors are from GA, NC, SC and VA.
via Facebook
Michelle Walker That is what I thought also, better than no pictures. I grew up in Tennessee and didn't think bad of coffin pictures
via Facebook
Grew up on the northern plains and after a hundred years, our family still takes a final picture of loved ones in their casket. It's a way of honoring their whole life.
via Facebook
Why do you think this is a southern tradition. I'm a southerner and I don't like it. And only an idiot northerner would make such a wicked comment! Turd!!!!!
via Facebook
Karron Lundy I am the one that mentioned “southern tradition” and I was born & raised in Florida. That’s pretty darn southern. 😉And no one said you had to like the practice of post mortem photography. Calm down.
via Facebook
We have one of my husband’s aunt in her coffin at the gravesite. Hispanic/Native American.
via Facebook
I think Photos were a rarity so people only took them on meaningful moments - coffin photos were just a way to always remember loved ones. We can not take the meaning behind them out of the time or context - death was normal and part of everyday life - moderne westerners think of it as a horrible fate when in reality, most cultures revere or celebrate it. I also have many Family coffin photos.
via Facebook
I took pictures of my Grandpa in his casket without anyone knowing. A few months later I told my Grandma I had the pictures. She was happy that I took them and said she couldn't remember what the casket looked like because of her grief. She also said he was worth the money she spent on laying him to rest.
via Facebook
Except for heads of state, I don't think they should be taken. It is in bad taste.
via Facebook
It depends on the person. If you don't like them you don't have to have them. It's the last image you'll ever have of someone you love, looking peaceful and not in pain. At the very least it's a memory of a major event you may be in too much grief to remember. It's only bad taste if it's disrespectful.
via Facebook
To me it is disrespectful just to take the photo of them showing how they look dead. It is disregard for their right to privacy. When they are dead they are unable to stop you. I know I would not want anyone to take my picture. Take as many pictures as possible when the person is alive. Look at them often and remember them at their best. This is my feeling. I was asked to express it and I did so. Other people feel differently and they have a right to express that also. Even viewing of the body should be limited. I remember two horrible supervisors I had at work, who attended an employee's funeral and made fun of the way he looked in his coffin and even laughed out loud when they got back to work.
via Facebook
Sharon Burns dead isn’t peaceful it’s just dead.
via Facebook
I wouldn't do it myself, but as a custom it's definitely subjective. If someone took a post-mortem of you or me, it might be a violation, while if it's a family tradition, the person would probably expect this to happen to them and give consent. Different strokes.
via Facebook
And Lee Ann, dead can also be relatively peaceful if the departed has been fighting illness for some time. Let people grieve in their own way.
Pat Burden
5 favorites
07/18/2018
Go to their website, click on Share your memories. AncientFaces
via Facebook
For some it may have been one of the only photos taken of them. The family wanted to remember their loved one, and there's no harm in that.
via Facebook
What a shame then that they could afford to have a picture taken of them in death but not when they were alive .
via Facebook
It was a different time and usually they had no photo of the person alive.I found a 'dead baby' picture from my family many years ago at a local antique shop.It fascinates me,saddens me,etc.That baby is remembered though because of that picture.
Nola Rains
3 favorites
07/18/2018
Personal choice. If you like it, do it. If not, then dont.
via Facebook
I have two photos of my mother’s 5-yr-old brother who died during the 1918 flu epidemic. Never thought that I would take pictures at a funeral but when my Aunt died my children were unable to attend her funeral so I took pictures to be able to show them.
via Facebook
These days we probably have photos/videos of the deceased when alive. I cannot understand why anyone would want a post mortem photo. NO judgement. Read an article on embalming written by a mortician that might put you right off the practice.
via Facebook
My family does this as a way to acknowledge the entire life process of a family member, plus, my dad looked really nice in his casket and we loved him so very much! Thanks for your perspective.
via Facebook
I knew a woman once that had pictures and she said alot of times when family couldn’t come a long way for a funeral, that people took pictures to show others what a nice service their loved one had -
David Becken
6 favorites
07/18/2018
I say it is better to have it and not want it, than to want it and not have it.
via Facebook
Death photography is common in my family.
When my 2 year old nephew passed away, my sister made every decision regarding his funeral and burial, but I had to communicate with the funeral home and execute her wishes because her grief was crippling. This was 6 years ago, and she has no memory of the week between his death and funeral. We were fortunate to have the funeral service live streamed by the funeral home, and they gave us a copy. I took photos of everything before they opened the doors, including our sweet boy. She just last week finally asked if she could see the photos, and they helped calm her.
When my 2 year old nephew passed away, my sister made every decision regarding his funeral and burial, but I had to communicate with the funeral home and execute her wishes because her grief was crippling. This was 6 years ago, and she has no memory of the week between his death and funeral. We were fortunate to have the funeral service live streamed by the funeral home, and they gave us a copy. I took photos of everything before they opened the doors, including our sweet boy. She just last week finally asked if she could see the photos, and they helped calm her.
Carolyne Jackson
15 favorites
07/18/2018
Yeah..but I don't like them.. and I don't want anyone to look upon me in death.. that way they will only have the memory of me alive..not the death imagine anywhere in their minds .
via Facebook
I feel the same way. I have viewed loved ones after they have passed, and I always feel as though I am looking at a shell...with the impression that they are not present. I prefer to have memories of them alive and vibrant.
via Facebook
The “old time” open coffin photos appeared more on my paternal German side of the family. Other than a couple of infants on my maternal side there really aren’t any. My German side lived in SD, ND, and WA.
via Facebook
Yes the only pictures I’ve ever seen of people in coffins was a German family.
via Facebook
I'm 68 years old and I'm from the south but I have never seen a picture of a deceased person until today! My sister took pictures of my mother and I was appaulled and I've never looked at those pictures. When my daddy passed I touched his hand and it was cold and hard, it turned off my grief. Like a light switch. Only Lazarus and a small girl was raised from the dead according to the Bible. By Jesus. Pictures cannot bring back the dead. And it seems morbid to take pictures of the dead. My personal opinion and it is not open for discussion.
via Facebook
My father always took coffin pictures. I dont. No one looks like they did in life in a coffin. I'd rather remember them that way but I understand that back in the day, heck even before digital photography, people just didn't take as many photos.
My eldest is 18. I couldn't afford to take as many pictures of her as I wanted when she was little. Now, with digital I'll take 50 pictures of my newborn just to get the 1 take I like. It's completely different now.
My eldest is 18. I couldn't afford to take as many pictures of her as I wanted when she was little. Now, with digital I'll take 50 pictures of my newborn just to get the 1 take I like. It's completely different now.
via Facebook
Growing up in Europe we don’t have viewings or open caskets ever. I was shocked the first time I went to a funeral here. The person that passed didn’t look at all like she looked when she was alive. Hair was totally wrong, funky makeup and I know she would have hated it. I thought I was at the wrong funeral🤮🤮🤮
via Facebook
Death is as much a part of life as birth is ,
Embracing both is a memorial event,
I see nothing wrong with it,
In many cases
The person looks in a resting state, You know the person better the the attendant preparing your loved one
Do their hair and makeup your self, share the experience
I have many times
NEVER REGRETTING IT ,
Embracing both is a memorial event,
I see nothing wrong with it,
In many cases
The person looks in a resting state, You know the person better the the attendant preparing your loved one
Do their hair and makeup your self, share the experience
I have many times
NEVER REGRETTING IT ,
via Facebook
I took pictures of my mother in her coffin because she looked so beautiful and at peace. I never had them developed. I didn’t take any when my son died and now I wish I had. I did take a couple of my MIL in her coffin with my phone, so have them. It just doesn’t seem to be an issue.
via Facebook
I dont really want to be sifting thru photos of my relatives and come across them in a coffin. I was so tempted to take one of my dad. He looked like he was sleeping peace fully and his coffin was surrounded by beautiful red poinsettias. But i said to myself, I’ll just keep him in my memory.
via Facebook
My mother's side of the family took coffin photos but each photo remained in that family and was not reproduced. My aunt took a photo of my mother, but I didn't want one. I had done my mother's hair, her makeup and polished her finger nails. Picked out her favorite clothes to wear.
via Facebook
When my grandfather's brother died of the influenza in 1918 or 1919, they took a picture of him out in front of the church in his coffin. In Europe it is much more common, I believe as our Polish relatives have, in the past, asked for photos of relatives in their caskets.
Kathy Stepp
1 follower 129 favorites
05/27/2022
Findagrave page - #32128837
Has a pic. of him, not in casket.
Has a pic. of him, not in casket.
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