Eulogies & obituaries
Writing a funeral speech or tribute
By Lindiwe Khumalo · 5 min read · Updated 24 June 2026
A funeral speech, or tribute, is a short, personal address that honours the person who has died. Unlike the main eulogy, a tribute is often given by several people, each sharing their own memories. This page shows you how to write one and gives a sample tribute for a family member.
A good tribute is short, warm and specific. Two or three minutes is plenty. The mourners want to feel who the person was, not hear a list of dates.
Use the structure and sample below to write yours, then read it aloud once or twice before the day.
A simple tribute structure
Keep it to two or three minutes - around 300 to 400 words:
- Open - say who you are and your relationship.
- One quality - the thing you most admired about them.
- One memory - a single story that shows that quality.
- What they meant to you - a sentence or two.
- Close - a short, direct farewell.
One strong memory beats five rushed ones. Choose the story that still makes you smile or tear up.
Fill-in-the-blank tribute frame
My name is [NAME], and [PERSON] was my [RELATIONSHIP].
What I will always remember about [him / her] is [QUALITY].
I think of the time [ONE SHORT STORY that shows that quality].
That was [PERSON] - [one line summing it up].
[He / She] gave me [WHAT THEY GAVE YOU], and I will hold
onto that always.
Rest well, [NAME]. Thank you for everything.
That is a full tribute once the blanks are filled.
Sample tribute for a family member
My name is Lerato, and Aunt Dineo was my mother's sister and my second mother.
What I will always remember about her was her fearlessness. She raised four children on her own, ran a spaza shop, and still found time to feed half the street.
I think of the time a storm tore the roof off her shop and, by the next morning, she had it patched, the shelves restocked, and a queue at the door. She just shrugged and said, "Life doesn't wait, my girl." That was Aunt Dineo - unstoppable.
She gave me my backbone. When I want to quit something, I hear her voice telling me life doesn't wait. I will hold onto that always.
Rest well, Aunty. Thank you for everything.
Notice how one story does most of the work.
Reading it on the day
- Print it big, double spaced, so you can find your line if your eyes blur.
- Practise out loud twice beforehand.
- Ask a backup to be ready to finish reading if you cannot continue.
- Pause when emotion rises; a silence is fine.
- Keep it short - other speakers are waiting, and brevity is a kindness to the room.
It is completely normal to cry. Everyone there understands.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write a funeral tribute?
Say who you are, name the one quality you most admired, tell a single short story that shows it, say what the person meant to you, and close with a direct farewell. Keep it to two or three minutes - one strong memory beats several rushed ones.
What is the difference between a tribute and a eulogy?
A eulogy is usually the main address that tells the person's life story, given by one person. A tribute is shorter and more personal, and several people often give one each, sharing their own memory. Both honour the person who has died.
How long should a funeral tribute be?
Two to three minutes, around 300 to 400 words. Tributes are often given by several people, so keeping yours short is a kindness to the other speakers and to the mourners. Focus on one memory rather than many.
What do you say in a tribute to a family member?
Share your relationship, the quality you most admired, and one specific story that captures them. End with what they gave you and a short farewell. Personal, specific memories move people far more than a list of achievements.
How do I get through a tribute without breaking down?
Print it in large text, practise it aloud beforehand, and ask someone to be ready to finish reading if you cannot. If emotion rises, pause and breathe - a silence is fine, and everyone in the room understands.
