Abbess,
    Christian Orthodox       
Abbot,
    Christian Orthodox        
Accountant        
Acting Official       
Adjutant General     
Admiral         
Admiral, Texas Navy   
Adventist Minister       
Alderman         
Archbishop, Catholic        
Archbishop,
   Christian Orthodox        
Archdeacon, Episcopal        
Archimandrite        
Architect
Archpriest        
Ambassador to the U.S.
   from a foreign country      
Ambassador of the U.S.        
American Indian Chief        
Assemblyman
   U.S., State / or           
   Assemblywoman            
Associate Justice,
   U.S. Supreme Court          
Associate Justice of a
   State Supreme Court
Astronaut      
Attorney         
Attorney General           
Attorney General,
       Assistant   
Attorney, U.S.         
Australian Officials    

Baron, Baroness           
British Officials,
   Royalty, Nobility     
Brother, Catholic         
Brother,
   Christian Orthodox          
Bishop, Catholic            
Bishop,
   Christian Orthodox         
Bishop, Episcopal        
Board Member     
Boy        
Brigadier General       
Business Cards      

Canadian Officials    
Candidate    
Captain,
   USA, USAF, USMC     
Cardinal             
Chairman
    Federal Reserve      
Chairwoman      
Chancellor      
Chaplain in the
    Armed Services        
Chaplain of Congress          
Chargé d’Affaires         
Chief Executive Officer 
Chief Judge          
Chief Justice,
      U.S. Supreme Court 
Chief Justice, of a State
      Supreme Court             
Chief of Police          
Chief of Staff     
Chief Operating
   Officer          
Child            
Chiropractor     
City Manager    
Clergy & Religious
    Officials     
Club Official          
Colonel, Kentucky      
Colonel, USA, USAF,
    or USMC     
Commandant       
Commissioner, Court     
Commissioner         
Commodore of a         
      Yacht Club         
Congressman, U.S.               
Congresswoman, U.S.   
Consul and or
   Consul General    
Consultant      
Corporate Executive         
Councilman
    Councilwoman      
Counselor (Diplomat)      
Countess     
County Officials       
Couples     
Curator        

Dalai Lama          
Deacon         
Dean, academic            
Dean, clergy            
Deceased Persons        
Delegate, U.S., State            
Dentist             
Deputy Chief of Mission      
Deputy Marshal          
Designate, Elect,
    Pro Tempore      
Diplomats      
District Attorney           
Doctor, Chiropractor     
Doctor of Dentistry           
Doctor of Medicine              
Doctor, Military           
Doctor of
   Veterinary Medicine          
Doctor of Osteopathy            
Doctor, Other Disciplines     
Doctorate        
Doctorate, honorary      

Earl            
Elect, Designate
   Pro Tempore      
Emeritus/emerita      
Eminence     
Emperor    
Engineer    
Etiquette    
Excellency           

Family     
Fiancee      
Firefighter    
First, Second,
   Third, etc.        
First Lady, Spouse
   of the President of
   the United States 
First Lady, Member
    of Her   
    White House Staff      
First Lady, Spouse
   of a Governor
   or Lt. Gov.    
First Lieutenant   
Flag Protocol     
Former Officials    
Freeholder       

Gay Couple      
Geshe
General
    USA, USAF, USMC
Girl
Governor General         
Governor, Lieutenant 
Governor, Lt., Spouse   
Governor, Tribal Council          
Governor, U.S. State       
Governor, Former    
Governor
    Spouse of     
Governor's Staff,
    Member of      
Governors, Board of 

High Commissioner    
Honorable, The          
Honorary degrees    
Honourable, The       

Indian Chief         
Inspector General    
Interim Official   
Introductions       
Invitations  
   Writing &  
   Addressing  
Invitations
    Military:
    Writing &
    Addressing

Judge, former     
Judge of US City or
        US Count     
Judge, US Federal            
Junior, Senior,
    I, II, III, etc.       
Justice, Associate
     Federal
     Supreme Court
Justice, Associate
     State
     Supreme Court

King     
Knight      

Late, The
   (deceased persons)        
Lawyer      
Lesbian Couple    
Lieutenant      
Lieutenant Colonel,     
   USA, USAF, USMC          
Lieutenant General,
   USA, USAF, USMC      
Lieutenant Governor         

How To Write the Names
of Deceased Persons
Blog of Questions & Answers

How To List a Deceased Hostess on an Invitation?        
How To List a Deceased Person in a Roster?        
How To List a Deceased Person in a Donor List?      

How To Write the Name of a Deceased Person
       Who Had Many Titles During Their Lifetime?       

How To Write a Name on a Posthumously Presented Certificate?       
How To Write the Name of a Couple
      When One is Deceased?      

Are "Mr./Mrs." Used With The Name of a Deceased Person?       
How To Refer to a Deceased Employer on my Resume?       
How To Refer to a Deceased Military Officer?       
When to Refer to a Deceased Person as "The Late"

How to Include a Deceased Person in a List?
        We have a committee celebrating our 100th birthday. Unfortunately, one of our committee members passed away this year but we would still like to list him in the program.  He was a judge.
        How do we properly list his name?
                The Honorable John Smith, deceased (seems harsh)
                The Late Honorable John Smith (seems like he's tardy)
                The Honorable John Smith *
                         * deceased
        -- E. H. L. 

        How do I reference a deceased Pastor and founder of a church? Should it read...
                   ABC Church
                   The Late John Smith, Founder
        --  A.M. 

       At our local nonprofit a deceased gentleman was named an honorary member years ago because of a significant gift he made. Should we take his name off the Honorary Members List, or include his name as John Smith (Deceased)?  Should a person remain an honorary member forever?
       -- L.B.

Dear EHL, AM & LB:
       Consider listing their names with the years of their life after their name:
              John Smith (1935-2011)
              John Smith (1935-2011), Founder
              The Honorable John Smith (1935-2011)
        If you are aiming for a timeless form, the span of years accomplishes that.
       Sometimes an asterisk * (cross or Star of David) is put next to the name and * Deceased is put at the bottom of the page as a footnote.  Deceased is of course correct, but can be a bit legal sounding.
      Using the late works best in text, such as when their death is recent, and someone is participating in their place, as in John Smith will be officiating in place of the late James Doe.
        L.B.: Regarding whether or not someone should remain an honorary member forever –– organizations make living politicians and local high-profile members of the community Honorary Members. Typically they don't pay dues, but the organization wants to include them on their public materials. It's a little less connected than being on the board of directors, but is shows a relationship. Maybe you need a new category? Important deceased donors and key organizational officials are frequently moved to another category: Founders. Typically in a Founders Listings, whether the person is alive or dead is not mentioned. You see this sort of list at museums posted prominently in the lobby or even carved in stone on a wall.
         -- Robert Hickey

Is Mr. Used With The Name of a Deceased Man? 
        My mother taught me that when a man is deceased, one should not refer to him as “Mr.”  I never asked her about whether a deceased woman should not be referred to as “Mrs.,” but my question refers to that as well. Do you know of such a rule?
                -- Sue Holton

Dear Ms. Holton:
        I have not heard of this as a rule, and I had not thought about it .... but it is true.
        "Mr." "Miss"  "Mrs."  "Ms." are honorifics and are used by others in direct address to a person. The honorifics are attached to the name as a courtesy to the person ... and to define them in some way ... as a man, woman .... or with women to define their marital status.  They are used in conversation, on an envelope, on letter's address block or salutation, or on a place card.
        But, if a person is deceased, you aren't addressing them in any of those circumstances.
        The same is true with courtesy titles .... The Honorable or His/Her Excellency ... are not used with deceased elected officials names or with deceased diplomats.
        Thanks for this question!
                -- Robert Hickey

How to Write the Name of a Deceased Person
On a Certificate of Recognition?
       Our parish is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. We are giving Certificates of Recognition to honor our Founding Parishioners.  My question is how to list a couple when one person is deceased?  The committee recommends putting the living person’s name first, following by the deceased spouse.
        Example:
                If the husband is deceased: Mary & Joseph Smith
                If the wife is deceased: Joseph & Mary Smith
        After reading your online information under “Deceased,” I don’t think this is correct.
        Should it be:
               Mary & the late Joseph Smith (if the husband is deceased)
                        and
              The late Mary & Joseph Smith (if the husband is deceased)
        Or can it be:
               Mary & Joseph (cross) Smith (if the husband is deceased);
                        and
               Mary (cross) & Joseph Smith (if the wife is deceased).
       It is common in our Church to designate someone is deceased by placing a small cross after their name.
              -- Powell Dean

Dear Mr. Dean:
       The committee's suggested style is something I have never heard of, and don't think makes much sense.
       If you are honoring the founding parishioners -- I would list their names without reference to whether the are alive or dead: they were alive when they were founding to the parish!
              Thomas James Smith and Mary Wilson Smith
              Mary and Thomas Smith
      I question why it's necessary to note who is living and who is dead -- how is this pertinent? Does the committee want historians to be able to look back and know who was alive at the 50th Anniversary Celebration?
       -- Robert Hickey

How to Write the Name of a Person in a Biography
Who Had Many Titles During Their Lifetime?
         Do you have a guide on how to include multiple titles for a person who had many titles? And whether those titles should be entered as prefix or suffix?  I am writing genealogical biographies.
         -- Janice K.H. 

Dear Janice K.H.:
      Generally deceased people are listed simply by name, typically the form of their name they had when they died -- without a courtesy title, honorific or academic post nominal.  Military officers might be listed with their rank and branch of service ... but they are about the only ones listed with 'the extras' ... and then not always.
     Other forms of a deceased person's name -- which they might have used at one time or another during their life: Excellency, Honorable or Reverend; Senator, Judge or Commissioner; B.A., M.A. or Ph.D. -- might be mentioned in the text of a biography. But even then, the biography would probably focus on jobs held and academic degrees earned -- rather than their name at various times.
      -- Robert Hickey

How to Include a Deceased Member of Your Family
When Asked to List All the Members of Your Family?
      I need your help.  My son Ben recently passed at 24 years-of-age after a brief, but valiant, struggle with cancer. Today I have to fill out an application for a directorship position for which I have been nominated. The second question on the form is - Family. So, how do I list Ben?
      Many people who will read this will know me but will not know about Sam but I just cannot leave him out.....what do I do? I've asked my husband and daughter, Stephen and Sarah, but they don't know what to do either.
      -- Grateful if you would think about this


Dear GIYWTAT:
     I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to deal with this.
     How you fill in the form may influence the actions of others who read it -- and will be what you decide is pertinent information for this group.
     Listing Stephen, Ben, and Kate will have someone eventually come up to you and ask about each of them. However they may not know what they are asking.  There have been times I've asked a question & I wished I had known enough not to ask the question ... or at least knew what I was asking.
     Listing only Stephen and Sarah --  puts the focus on now. It makes sense in the same way an expectant mother wouldn't list her to-be-born baby -- she lists just today's information.
     The editorial style guides suggest if you include Ben it would be appropriate to put (deceased) after his name.  But that brings me back to your decision of what is relevant to this particular group, what is pertinent to the situation, what you want them to know, and what they need to know. 
            -- Robert Hickey

How to Refer to a Deceased Employer on a Resume?    
   How do I refer to my deceased employer, a U.S. Senator, on my resume?
     -- Beth Acorn

Dear Ms. Acorn,
    I am not sure why it's necessary to mention that your former employer is deceased on your resume. Seems odd, but, spans of the years of life are included sometimes:
        John Tower, United States Senator for Texas (1925-1991)
     But I think you should leave out that he is deceased: On your resume it only matters that you are still alive!
         -- Robert Hickey

When to Refer to a Deceased Person as "The Late"?
Mr. Hickey:
    In writing the history of our non-profit organization should we refer to the founders, now deceased, as the late John Smith?
      --- Darla Snyder

Ms. Snyder:
      Usually "the late" precedes a name of someone who just died ... to clarify he or she would have participated, but died and someone else participated in their place. "John Smith, the bride's uncle, gave her away at the wedding in place of her father the late Thomas Smith."
    In a "history" I suggest you use a timeless style that will be accurate today and in 100 years when all of the organization's founders will be the late. So, just refer to everyone as (first + surname).
    If you want to include more about their lifespans you could list founders and board members elsewhere in the document with the appropriate years --  (1948-1999) -or- (1955 -       ) -- after their name.
            -- Robert Hickey

How Do I List a Deceased Hostess on an Invitation?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
    I have a quick question that I am hoping you might be able to answer. A baby shower was to be hosted by two individuals. Regretfully, one of the individuals passed away about a week ago. The family asks that the deceased still be listed as hostess on the invitation. How would that be worded?
             Posthumously Caroline Giles
                   or
            The Late Caroline Giles
     Please advise.
         --- Helen Carley

Dear Ms. Carley:
   Invitations are issued by host who will attend an event. What you should do is decide who will host the event now. THEN the host would open the event with a welcome toast and loving remembrance ... such as ... I cannot welcome you today without saying that as we gather to celebrate of the joyous start of a new life -- we also celebrate a another life well lived -- that of Caroline Giles. Caroline an I were to jointly host this event and nothing would have brought her more joy than to see this wonderful gathering of friends and family ..... etc.
          -- Robert Hickey

How to Refer to a Deceased Military Officer?
    Sir, what is the correct written form for the name of a retired US Army Colonel who is now deceased?  The family hosts a golf tournament in his honor for the benefit of the Wounded Warrior Project and Operation Homefront.  I have received several varying suggestions from various persons involved, all of whom are military or retired military who insist their version is correct though all versions are different to some degree. Thank you kindly for your  assistance.
             -- James Costello

Dear Mr. Costello,
   I can understand why you are getting mixed opinions ... there are rules about addressing the living ... but when writing the name of the deceased you are referring to them in the third person ... not addressing them directly ... so those rules don't technically apply.
     Since he's deceased "retired" is not pertinent.
     There are several options:
          Colonel Jamie Abbott
          Col. Jamie Abbott
          COL Jamie Abbott
          Colonel Jamie Abbott, USA
          Col. Jamie Abbott, USA
          COL Jamie Abbott, USA
     Spell out the rank or abbreviate it. Include branch of service if you think it's necessary or put his bio in the program somewhere, you could state he served in the the United States Army from XXXX to XXXX .... etc.
     I know they have a copy of my book at the Wounded Warrior Project in Florida ... because Margie Kelly, a graduate of The Protocol School of Washington® and etiquette consultant volunteers there and gave them one.
            -- Robert Hickey

How to Write a Name on a Posthumous Certificate?
       How would I address a Certificate of Appreciation given to someone who has died?  Do I address it as "The Late John Smith" or do I address it as "In memory of John Smith"?  Please help.  Thanks.
    -- Sue in Essex County

Dear Sue:
     If you are presenting it to his family... they likely have other framed diplomas and certificates with his name on them.  I would not refer the fact that he is dead … just put his name on the certificate. Write something like....


     If the certificate is dated ... historians will figure out that it was presented posthumously.
         -- Robert Hickey

How to Include a Deceased Husband With
The Family on a as Donors List?
      A "Special Tribute Book", is being put together to commemorate our Rabbi's 25th Anniversary.  I have been requested to submit, in writing, how I would like my contribution to be listed under "Name/Family Names".  I would like to include my deceased husband's name, as well as my first name, and include the names of our children.
     Would you assist me with proper wording?  For example, Mrs. Robert G. Green, (Pearl), and adult children Michael, Russell, Edward, and Rebecca.
     My husband died just over one year ago.  We were married fifty six years ago, in this temple.
     Please send a speedy reply, if possible.
           -- Pearl

Dear Pearl:
     I'm not crazy about "her adult children" ... and I think you should include your name and your husband's name. I've seen Mrs. Robert G. Green (Pearl) used here and there, but I think it's awkward.
     How about: Pearl B. Green with her children Michael, Russell, Edward, and Rebecca in memory of Robert G. Green.
     In identifying them as "her chlidren" and everyone will know, or be able to figure out, you are also Mrs. Robert G. Green.
     What do you think?
      -- Robert Hickey

     I'm going to go with your suggestion: Pearl B. Green with her children Michael, Russell, Edward, and Rebecca in memory of Robert G. Green.
     I read the exact wording to our son, Michael, and asked him if it sounded right to him, or needed to be rephrased?  His said, "Mom, I think it is great!"  That's all I needed to hear.  He's been a blessing to me, from the moment his Dad brought him into my life, fifty-seven years ago! 
    Thank you, again. I wish you well.  You have been most helpful.
           -- Pearl