Except for the fact that the location was a cemetery, the site of Bert Wilson, Stuart Wilson and Jordan Lovell laying bricks on Monday would have been a familiar one to their grandfather, Billy Lovell.

William Wilkerson Lovell, the owner of Lovell Construction who spent his entire working life as a brick mason, taught the three men — and all of his grandsons — to lay bricks and the value of hard work.

But on Monday, the Wilsons and Jordan Lovell were laboring in the heat to build something to honor their grandfather — they were creating a brick headstone for his grave.

“We felt like it would mean more to him than a piece of granite,” Bert Wilson said.

Bert’s brother, Stuart, said all of Lovell’s grandsons know masonry. “He taught us all to lay bricks,” Stuart said.

Bert said his grandfather loved his work but it was not first on his list of priorities.

“Somebody once said there are four things he loved best — his family, his church, laying bricks and Athens Bible School,” Bert said. “Grandpapa taught us a lot more than hard work. He taught us that this was not the most important thing in life. He’d much rather us spend our time doing something related to the church.”

Billy Lovell died March 12 at age 87 and was laid to rest in Roselawn Cemetery off U.S. 31.

His new headstone faces the highway and contains granite blocks with his name, birth and death dates etched on them, as well as a block with the name of his wife, Pauline Fielding Lovell, who survived him.

A granite stone in the center of the brick monument is inscribed with Billy Lovell’s favorite Bible verse: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men.” Col. 3:23.

“I can’t tell you how many times he told me that,” Bert said.

Bert’s brother, Stuart, once did masonry but changed careers and is now a financial advisor in Athens. He also preached at Jackson Drive Church of Christ, where his cousin Jordan still preaches and where Billy Lovell was an elder for 41 years.

Billy Lovell also was a U.S. Navy veteran, farmer, member of the Limestone Cattlemen’s Association, a member of Athens-Limestone Home Builders Association and a board member for 15 years of Athens Bible School.