BLESSED ARE… 
The Beatitudes, found in the Gospel of Matthew, are blessings Jesus declared during the Sermon on the Mount. These biblical verses highlight virtues such as empathy, humility, and mercy. Christ’s teachings describe these favored qualities and the eternal rewards of those who live according to God's will. Beatitudes often appear as epitaphs to reflect the deceased's righteous life and spiritual legacy.

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There are eight Beatitudes; however only two have been documented in Madison's cemeteries.

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

3. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

8. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Quite prevalent is Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” This verse appears in both

Old and New Cemetery sections, its popularity spanning the years from 1829 to 1919.

Rebeccah Yancy Boon [1814-1829]
Azariah Graves [1832-1858]
Julia Smith Lea Wingfield [1835-1864]

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Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” – makes a single appearance in the Old Cemetery section on the gravestone of Leroy Montgomery Willson, Sr. [1809-1880].