Finding out about someone’s passing in the Lowcountry isn't always as straightforward as checking a single website. People here still value the old ways. You've got the historic morning paper, the family-owned funeral homes that have been around since the Civil War, and a growing digital scene.
Basically, if you are looking for obituaries in Charleston SC, you are navigating a mix of deep tradition and modern tech. It's kinda complicated but manageable.
Where the Notices Actually Live
The big player is still The Post and Courier. It’s the primary daily newspaper for the region. Most families consider a notice here the "official" record. But it isn't the only spot.
Many families now skip the newspaper entirely because of the cost. They use funeral home websites instead. These "digital tributes" are often more personal. They have comment sections where friends from high school or old coworkers leave long, heartfelt stories.
The Major Sources for Recent Records
- The Post and Courier (Online/Print): This is the gold standard. They charge by the line, so these are often concise.
- J. Henry Stuhr: They are the oldest family-owned funeral home in South Carolina (started in 1865). Their website is a massive repository for the West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, and Downtown areas.
- James A. McAlister: A heavy hitter for the West Ashley and James Island communities.
- Smith-McNeal & Pasley’s Mortuary: These are vital for families in North Charleston and the historically Black communities of the peninsula.
- The Low Country Mortuary: Very active with digital memorials in North Charleston and Goose Creek.
Honestly, if you can’t find a name in the paper, go straight to the funeral home sites. Most of them post the full obituary 24 to 48 hours before it ever hits a newsfeed.
What It Costs to Say Goodbye
Let’s talk money. Death notices aren't cheap in the Lowcountry.
In 2026, a basic "first day" notice in The Post and Courier starts at about $129.60. That’s just for the basics. If you want to add a photo? That’s another $80. Every single line of text adds roughly $3.75. It adds up fast.
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The Charleston City Paper is another option. They are a bit more affordable, starting around $60 for 60 words and a photo. They require verification from a funeral home before they'll publish anything. This keeps the fake notices out.
How to Find Someone from 50 Years Ago
Sometimes you aren't looking for a recent service. You’re doing genealogy. Charleston is a goldmine for this.
The Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) on Calhoun Street is your best friend here. They have a dedicated South Carolina Room. It's quiet. It smells like old paper. It’s perfect. They have microfilm of local papers dating back to the 1700s.
If you want digital, the Post and Courier archives are searchable, but you usually need a subscription or a library card to bypass the paywall.
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Real Research Options
- SC Department of Public Health (DPH): They hold the death indexes from 1915 to 1967 online.
- South Carolina Historical Society: Located in the Addlestone Library at the College of Charleston. They have "vertical files" organized by surname.
- City of Charleston Records Center: They have Alms House records and "Orphan House" files from the 1800s.
The Gullah Geechee Legacy in Obituaries
You can’t talk about obituaries in Charleston SC without mentioning the "Home Going" tradition. In the African American community here, an obituary is more than a death notice. It’s a biography.
These programs are often 4-8 pages long. They include "Resolutions" from churches and detailed family trees. If you are looking for these, check the sites for Dickerson Mortuary or W.M. Smith-McNeal. They often live-stream the services too. This became huge during the pandemic and just never went away. It’s great for family members in New York or Philly who can’t make the trip down I-95.
Common Mistakes People Make
Most people just Google a name and "Charleston" and hope for the best. That works half the time.
But sometimes the person died in Summerville or Goose Creek. In that case, the notice might be in a smaller local digest or just on the funeral home's Facebook page. Yeah, Facebook is huge for local obits now.
Another tip: Check the cemetery records directly. Holy Cross on James Island or Magnolia Cemetery downtown have their own records that sometimes predate the surviving newspapers.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
If you are looking for a specific obituary right now, follow this sequence to save time:
- Check the Funeral Home First: If you know which home handled the service (Stuhr, McAlister, etc.), go to their "Obituaries" or "Tributes" page. This is always the most up-to-date and is free to read.
- Use the Legacy.com Portal: The Post and Courier syncs their paid notices here. It’s a decent search engine but sometimes misses the very small, local-only notices.
- Verify the Date: Charleston families often wait a few days to publish a notice to ensure all the service details (like the venue or the "in lieu of flowers" charity) are finalized.
- Search by Maiden Name: In the South, maiden names are almost always included in parentheses or as a middle name. If a first/last search fails, try searching for the maiden name.
- Visit the CCPL South Carolina Room: For any death before the year 2000, this is the most reliable way to find a scan of the actual printed notice.
Start with the funeral home websites directly. They provide the most detail without the newspaper paywalls.