Search Pickens County Death Index

Pickens County is in the northwest corner of South Carolina, in the Upstate region along the Blue Ridge foothills. The county death index begins with statewide registration in January 1915. The Pickens County Coroner has kept records since 1830. This guide covers how to find and request Pickens County death records through the coroner's office, the local health department, the library, and the South Carolina state vital records system.

Pickens County Death Index and Coroner History

The Pickens County Coroner's Office has one of the longest documented histories of any coroner's office in South Carolina, with records of coroners dating back to 1830. The office is located at 147 Kay Holcombe Road, Liberty, SC 29657. The primary phone number is (864) 898-5561. Current Coroner Andrew P. Wilson began serving in January 2025 after winning election in 2024. The Chief Deputy Coroner is Tommy Page, and Deputy Coroner is Marsha Alexander. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Coroner Wilson came to the role through emergency services. He started as a volunteer firefighter in 2012, then moved into EMS as a paramedic and field training officer. He served as EMT Program Coordinator for Upstate EMS Council Inc. before joining the coroner's office as a part-time deputy in 2023. His certifications include board-certified death investigator, paramedic, firefighter, and car seat technician. He trained through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, SC Fire Academy, SC Criminal Justice Academy, and the SC Coroner's Association.

The prior coroner, Kandy C. Kelley, served 24 years from 2009 through 2024. Under state law at SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5, the Pickens County Coroner investigates all suspicious, violent, and unexpected deaths. This covers deaths outside hospitals, deaths within 24 hours of hospital admission, and deaths where a physician will not certify a natural cause.

The Pickens County government portal at co.pickens.sc.us connects residents to county departments and services, including the coroner's office.

Pickens County Coroner Office and Death Certificates

The Pickens County Coroner's Office investigates all suspicious and violent deaths in the county. The office also handles water-related deaths, which are a concern given the county's access to Lake Keowee, Lake Hartwell, and Lake Jocassee. Recorded deaths in those waters include drownings and boating accidents going back to 2011. The Saluda River also runs through the area and has been the site of accidental deaths.

Death certificates are filed electronically with the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The coroner does not issue certificates directly. Once all reports including toxicology and autopsy results are finalized, the certificate is processed. Certified copies can be obtained through the funeral home or from the DHEC local office serving Pickens County, located at 220 McGee Road in Anderson, SC, phone 864-260-5667.

Former Coroner Kandy Kelley was an advocate for water safety and infant safe sleep. She saw approximately 100 babies die from unsafe sleep during her 24-year career and worked to educate families about safe sleep practices. The office continues that public health education role under current leadership.

Pickens County Death Record FAQs

The Pickens County Coroner's Office maintains a FAQ page with answers to common questions about death records and certificates. The Pickens County Coroner FAQ explains where to obtain death certificates, what the coroner investigates, and how long the process takes.

Death certificates for deaths occurring in Pickens County in the last five years can be obtained from the Pickens County Vital Records office at 222 McDaniel Ave, #B-5, Pickens, SC 29671. The phone numbers are (864) 898-5868 for general inquiries and (864) 898-5965 for vital records. Hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For deaths older than five years, contact the SC Department of Public Health at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Note: Under SC law at Title 44, Chapter 63, death certificates must be filed within five days of death, and records less than 50 years old are restricted to immediate family members and legal representatives.

Pickens County Library Genealogy Resources

The Pickens County Library System provides history and genealogy resources that support death record research. The library holds local newspapers, family history files, cemetery records, and reference collections covering the county's history. For deaths before 1915, when statewide registration had not begun, the library's genealogical materials are often the best starting point.

Researchers working on early Pickens County families should also consult the SC Department of Archives and History. The SC Archives hold microfilm of death certificates from 1915 to 1963 and are available at lower cost than certified copies. The free SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 offer a searchable online database of all Pickens County deaths filed with the state during that period. The Ancestor Hunt site lists additional free South Carolina death record databases covering Pickens County.

Cities in Pickens County

Pickens County includes several communities. All death records for residents are filed through the county coroner and the state vital records system.

Easley is the largest city in Pickens County. Death records for Easley residents are part of the Pickens County death index and the state system in Columbia.

Nearby County Death Records

Pickens County borders Oconee, Greenville, and Anderson counties. Deaths are recorded by county, so check the right county if you are unsure where a death occurred.

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