Image: Stephen Kennedy -Cross Country Camera
How I Transformed from a Stone Carver to a Digital Memorial Pioneer
Almost a decade ago, LA Weekly published an article about me, Caroline Jones, detailing my journey as a female sculptor breaking into the traditionally male-dominated world of stone carving and cemetery work. At the time, I was carving a four-ton piece of marble into a monument at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery—a place known more for its history and celebrity residents than for welcoming women into its inner sanctum of artisans. I was the only woman working alongside a crew of weathered Armenian men, chiseling away at grayish-black headstones. It was a battle to carve out not just stone, but a space for myself in an industry that hadn’t quite made room for women.
Back then, my focus was on traditional memorial work. I spent hours carving, drilling, and sanding, pushing my physical limits and immersing myself in the intimate histories of those I memorialized. The work was demanding, both emotionally and physically, but it taught me resilience, precision, and the art of storytelling through stone. I was a sculptor, but also a woman determined to honor life and legacy in a field that had not always been kind to women.
Fast forward to today, Women's Equality Day, and that story feels like a distant chapter in a much longer book. My journey has evolved, and so has my work. I’m no longer just a woman breaking into the boys' club of cemetery art—I’m now the founder of Digitalandstone, a company that has reimagined what it means to memorialize loved ones. On a personal note I'm also no longer married and my wonderful kids have left home and are in college hundreds and thousands of miles away.
From Stone to Digital: A New Era of Memorialization
When I first started Digital and Stone, I was still deeply rooted in the physical world of stone carving. As I listened to the story of grief and love from one of my clients about the loss of their mother, I felt such a profound sense of purpose and desire to infuse the stone with these stories, knowing that if I could she would have so much more connection and sense of place when she visited her mothers memorial. As technology evolved, I saw an opportunity to innovate—to blend the tactile, enduring beauty of traditional monuments with the endless possibilities of digital technology. Today, Digital and Stone offers not just physical monuments, but also digital memorials, environmental legacies, and innovative AI technology.
We’ve expanded from carving marble into building digital platforms like our Tree of Life, where families can share memories, photos, videos, and tributes. We’re creating virtual spaces where grief can find community, and remembrance can be shared across generations. And our AI avatar, AI Joe, offers support and guidance, transforming how people interact with memorials in the digital age.
Environmental Legacies and Sustainable Practices
Our commitment to legacy has also taken an environmental turn. At Digital and Stone, we offer services that extend beyond traditional memorials. Our environmental legacy programs enable people to plant trees, support conservation efforts, and create sustainable tributes that honor both their loved ones and the planet. From our planned memorial park, Solara in Mexico, to partnerships with programs like Park Guardian, we're forging a path that respects the environment as much as it respects memory.
Women Leading the Way
It’s still a man’s world in many ways, but we’re seeing change. In carving my place in stone, I learned the importance of determination and vision. Today, that vision has expanded to include not just breaking barriers in a traditional field, but also leading the way in a new, inclusive, and innovative industry. Women's Equality Day is a reminder that our journey is ongoing. As women, we continue to push boundaries, innovate, and lead with empathy and resilience.
The boys' club may still exist, but it’s getting a lot more diverse. I’m proud of how far we’ve come at Digital and Stone—from the dust and debris of a stone yard to the expansive, digital landscapes of memorialization. And I'm excited about where we’re going next.
So here’s to the future—a future where women lead not just in stone, but in every realm imaginable. Happy Women's Equality Day!
Interested in learning more about how we're transforming the world of memorials? Visit us at Digitalandstone.com to explore our offerings and see how we can help you honor your loved ones, community and environment in new and meaningful ways.
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