Libby Murdaugh 'passed away peacefully.' Will incarcerated son Alex Murdaugh attend funeral?

The matriarch of Hampton County's most well-known family has passed away, leaving family, friends and community in mourning. But will her incarcerated son be able to attend her funeral?

Elizabeth "Libby" Alexander Murdaugh, the wife of former, late 14th Circuit Solicitor Randolph Murdaugh III and the mother of now notorious former attorney Richard "Alex" Murdaugh, has died at the age of 85 in her Hampton County home.

Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home in Hampton announced Wednesday that Libby Murdaugh "passed away peacefully" and "surrounded by family and friends" Tuesday afternoon, March 19, at her home in Almeda, near Varnville, under hospice care. Read the full obituary here: https://www.peeplesrhodenfuneralhome.com/obituary/libby-murdaugh

The funeral service was scheduled for noon, Tuesday, March 26, at the Varnville United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at the Hampton Cemetery and services conducted by Rev. Jack Hutto and Rev. John Culp and directed by Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home of Hampton. Visitation is to be in the Varnville United Methodist Church prior to the service beginning at 11 a.m.

By Wednesday, community members were already leaving condolences on the funeral home's website.

"It is very sad news to hear of Libby's passing," posted a retired educator. "She was a great teacher and school board member. For me as an asst. principal, she was an inspirational leader. She did much for the community she served - and she did it with a lot of heart. Hampton County will dearly miss her."

"I am so sorry to hear of Miss Libby’s passing," posted another community member. "She was a lovely person, with a kind and generous spirit. She taught my late sister, Belinda, in the sixth grade -  back in 1965, and really made a positive impact on Belinda’s life. It was my true pleasure to know Miss Libby."

In addition to Alex Murdaugh and other children and family members, Libby is also survived by oldest son Randolph "Randy" Murdaugh IV, a senior partner at the Parker Law Group (formerly PMPED, which was founded by Murdaugh ancestors).

According to her obituary, "Left to cherish her memory is her daughter Lynn Murdaugh Goettee (Allen), her sons Randolph “Randy” Murdaugh, IV (Christy), Richard Alexander Murdaugh, and John Marvin Murdaugh (Liz); grandchildren Mills Goettee, Trey Goettee, Buster Murdaugh, Reeves Goettee, Mary Elizabeth Murdaugh, Caroline Murdaugh, Mary Marvin Murdaugh, Liza Grace Murdaugh, and Randolph Murdaugh, V; sister Janet Cotter, brother Don Alexander (Lisa), sister-in-law Brenda Young (Tommy); and special family member Barbara Mixson, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Libby was predeceased by her husband Randolph Murdaugh, III; her daughter-in-law Maggie Murdaugh; grandson Paul Murdaugh; and brother-in-law Arlen Cotter."

Who was Alex Murdaugh's mother, Libby Murdaugh?

Elizabeth Jones Alexander Murdaugh, better known as Libby, married Randolph Murdaugh III on June 3, 1961, and was married to the legacy lawyer and solicitor for 60 years.

Like several of the Murdaugh wives and mothers who came before her, Libby also came from a prominent, founding family of Hampton County, the Alexanders of Brunson, and was an educated and accomplished woman.

Libby was an honor student in primary and high schools and was also a 1961 Columbia College honor graduate who earned almost every academic honor available. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Gamma national leadership fraternity, the Alpha Psi Omega national dramatics fraternity, a three-year officer in the USC Student Government, and was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Even as she raised three sons and a daughter, Libby pursued a career in education. She worked as a teacher for 31 years, with most of that time spent teaching the middle school grades in Hampton County School District 1, and upon retirement pursued her political career, serving multiple terms on the H.C. School District 1 Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2019, including several years as chairperson of the board During her tenure she served several years as the School Board Chairman and as a Regional Director for the Board of Directors of the South Carolina School Boards Association.

Will Alex Murdaugh be able to attend his mother's funeral?

Libby Murdaugh will be laid to rest in Hampton Cemetery beside her late husband, who died after an extended illness on June 10, 2021, and near Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, who were murdered on June 7, 2021.

Libby's middle son, Alex, was tried and convicted of their murders in March 2023 and is currently serving two life sentences. While state prison inmates are allowed to petition for the right to attend family funerals, will this be the case for Alex Murdaugh, who also stands convicted of more than a score of financial crimes?

It is highly unlikely.

According to S.C. Department of Corrections inmate policy, provided to The Hampton County Guardian by SCDOC spokesperson Chrysti Shain, "Inmates may elect to either visit select family members in the hospital prior to the family member's imminent death or to attend the viewing or funeral service, not to include graveside services, upon the death of select family members at their own expense, subject to the approval of the Agency."

This policy allows transport of the inmate, either by prison officials or law enforcement officials, within South Carolina only, provided there is no security risk to the public and the inmate, or the inmate's family, can pay for all associated costs.

However, such requests for transport "will always result in disapproval," states the policy, under certain circumstances, including if:- The inmate has been convicted of a statutorily violent crime;- The inmate has had any disciplinary convictions within the past year;- The community is in opposition to the inmate's transport.

Not only has Murdaugh been convicted of two counts of murder and two weapons offenses, but he has also had at least one disciplinary conviction.

Attorneys and a spokesperson for Murdaugh did not respond to questions on whether Murdaugh intended to petition the SCDOC to attend his mother's services, and Shain was unsure if anyone had applied for this action by Wednesday afternoon.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Alex Murdaugh's mother, Libby, died Tuesday. Will he attend funeral?