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Frank Sinatra -

Ol' Blue Eyes has a rather appropriate phrase, "The best is yet to come," written on his headstone. This is the title of one of his most famous songs, released in 1964.

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Bette Davis -

Story has it that on the set of the 1950 movie 'All About Eve,' the actress joked that the line "She did it the hard way" would make a great headstone inscription for her. This is exactly what is written on her tombstone.

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Bessie Smith -

Bessie Smith's headstone couldn't have described her better. It reads: "The greatest blues singer in the world will never stop singing."

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Richard Nixon -

The 37th president of the United States has the following epitaph: "The greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker."

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Ian Curtis -

The late vocalist of Joy Division has "Love will tear us part" as an epitaph; a nod to his band's most famous song. 

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Elvis Presley -

"He was a precious gift from God. We cherished and loved dearly. He had a God-given talent that he shared with the world. And without a doubt, He became most widely acclaimed; capturing the hearts of young and old alike. He was admired not only as an entertainer, but as the great humanitarian that he was; For his generosity, and his kind feelings for his fellow man. He revolutionized the field of music and received its highest awards. He became a living legend in his own time; earning the respect and love of millions. God saw that he needed some rest and called him home to be with Him. We miss you, Son and Daddy. I thank god that He gave us you as our son." 

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Karl Marx -

The tomb of the German philosopher and revolutionary socialist can be found at Highgate Cemetery in London, UK. "Workers of all lands unite" is carved on it, along with the epitaph "The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways - the point however is to change it."  

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Mel Blanc -

The catchphrase "That's All Folks" will always be associated with Mel Blanc, the man behind the voices of many Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Barney Rubble, to name a few.

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William Shakespeare -

The famous playwright actually has a poetic curse as an epitaph. It reads: "Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed be the man that spares these stones, and cursed be he that moves my bones."

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John Peel -

The iconic British broadcaster John Peel, has "Teenage dreams so hard to beat" on his gravestone. The phrase is taken from Peel's favorite song, 'Teenage Kicks' by The Undertones.

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Thomas Jefferson -

The epitaph of the Founding Father and third president of the United States reads "Author of the Declaration of Independence of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom and Father of the University of Virginia." 

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Martin Luther King, Jr. -

"Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty I’m free at last," can be read on the tombstone of the iconic civil rights movement leader.

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Jim Morrison -

The late front man of The Doors has a headstone inscription in Greek that roughly translates to "True to your own spirit" or "True to himself."

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Edgar Allan Poe -

The American poet's epitaph makes reference to his famous poem, 'The Raven.' It reads: "Quoth the raven…Nevermore." 

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John Belushi -

The actor and comedian, best known for his appearances on SNL and the 1980 movie 'The Blues Brothers,' has "I may be gone but Rock and Roll lives on" as an epitaph. However, it's been rumored that John Belushi is actually buried elsewhere. 

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T.S. Eliot -

The resting place of the famous poet and writer can be found at St Michael and All Angels Church in East Coker, England. His epitaph reads: "in my beginning is my end" and "in my end is my beginning."

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Johnny Ramone -

"If a man can tell he's been successful in life by having great friends, then I have been very successful," reads the epitaph of the late Ramones guitarist and founding member.

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Jesse James -

The epitaph of the famous outlaw includes the line: "Murdered by a Traitor and Coward Whose Name is not Worthy to Appear Here."

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Sammy Davis Jr. -

The multi-talented Sammy Davis Jr.'s gravestone features his nickname, "The Entertainer," and says "He did it all." 

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Alexander Hamilton -

The Founding Father of the United States has the following grand epitaph: "The patriot of incorruptible integrity. The soldier of approved valour. The statesman of consummate wisdom, whose talents and virtue will be admired by grateful prosperity long after this marble shall be mouldered into dust."

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Jack Lemmon -

The American actor keeps it short and sweet with "Jack Lemmon in," as if one was reading the opening titles of a film.  

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Dee Dee Ramone -

The bassist and a founding member of the Ramones has the line "O.K...I gotta go now" written on his grave in Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

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Hank Williams -

The country music legend has a number of song titles engraved on this tomb, including "Mansion on the Hill."  

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Hank Williams -

Hank Williams' tomb also includes a reference to his 1951 hit "I Saw the Light."

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Rodney Dangerfield -

The American comedian and actor has "There goes the neighborhood" carved on his headstone, an epitaph taken from one of his jokes. 

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Robert Lee Frost -

"I had a lover's quarrel with the world" is the last line from Frost's poem 'A Lesson for Today,' and was chosen for his epitaph. The poem ends as follows: "I hold your doctrine of Memento Mori. And were an epitaph to be my story I’d have a short one ready for my own. I would have written of me on my stone: I had a lover’s quarrel with the world."

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Dante Alighieri -

The tomb of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri has a Latin epitaph that roughly translates to "The rights of monarchy, the skies and waters of Flegetont, Visiting I sang until my mortal destinies arrived. Since my soul went hosted in better places, and even more fortunate reached among the stars his Creator, here I am enclosed, Me (Dante), exiled from the earthly land, which generated Florence, mother of little love."

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Lester Moore -

Lester Moore's intriguing epitaph at Boot Hill Cemetery in Tombstone, Arizona, has been subject to much debate. Legend has it that Moore was a Wells Fargo agent who was shot dead by an angry customer with four bullets from a .44-caliber gun. It reads "Here lies Lester Moore Four Slugs from a 44 No Les No More.."

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Nick Drake -

The grave of the English singer-songwriter reads "How we rise and we are everywhere," which is taken from the lyrics of his song 'From the Morning.'

Sources: (Business Insider) (Funeral Guide) (HowStuffWorks) (Ravenna Tourism)

See also: Strange things people leave at the graves of famous figures

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