Royce Knox McMahon

Royce Knox McMahon passed away on August 5, 2024. He was the son of the late Royce Edward McMahon and the late Elizabeth (“Bet”) Knox McMahon. He was predeceased by a son, Royce Knox McMahon, Jr., and a son-in-law, Kerry M. Pentz.

Knox was born on December 15, 1947 in Columbia, South Carolina. He attended grade school at St. Joseph’s Catholic School and graduated from Cardinal Newman High School in 1966. Knox began his career in the law enforcement field serving as a police officer, along with his father, for the City of Columbia Police Department and then as a Deputy with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. While raising a young family, Knox earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina and entered law school in 1975.

After graduating law school in 1978 and being admitted to the South Carolina Bar, Knox entered into private practice with William (Bill) Cotty with a focus on civil litigation, real estate law and criminal defense. Knox then opened his own practice in Lexington with emphasis on civil, criminal, and domestic litigation while serving as a part-time Lexington Municipal Judge. In 1981, Knox returned to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department as Legal Advisor, which combined his law enforcement experience and training with his legal education. Knox was a Detective Captain part of his time with the Sheriff’s department, and investigated and supervised the investigations of major violent crimes.

In 1983, Knox transferred to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office as an Assistant Solicitor where he prosecuted many significant violent cases and was promoted to Deputy Solicitor in 1986. In 1995, Knox was offered a position as team leader of the Violent Crime Task Force for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. In 1999, Knox was awarded the Ernest F. Hollings Award for Excellence in State Prosecutions (General Sessions). Knox retired from public service after 28 years in 2003.

After his retirement, Knox entered private practice with James C. Anders, P.A. and Associates with a focus on civil litigation, business litigation and criminal defense. After Mr. Anders’ death, Knox joined the firm of Whetstone, Myers, Perkins, and Young, LLC, until his election as a Circuit Court Judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in March of 2006. Knox retired from judicial service in June of 2018, after which he returned to private practice handling criminal defense and civil litigation.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine (“Nikki”) Wrenn McMahon; daughters, Elizabeth McMahon Pentz, and Sara McMahon Bunge (Ricardo); son, Matthew McMahon (Betsy); grandchildren, Tyler Cobb, Benton McMahon, and Elizabeth (“Izzy”) McMahon; step-daughters, Taylor Hilliard and Brayton Hilliard; sister Rose Ellen McManus; aunts, Martha Knox Hucks and Shirley Knox; nephews, nieces, cousins, and many other close family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at the Old Lexington County Courthouse located at 139 East Main Street, Lexington, South Carolina 29072 with visitation to follow. Parking is available at the Marc H. Westbrook Judicial Center located at 205 East Main Street or at the Town of Lexington Municipal Complex located at 111 Maiden Lane.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Hydrocephalus Association, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 905, Bethesda, MD 20814-4447 (hydroassoc.org), or to Pets, Inc., P.O. Box 6394, West Columbia, SC 29169 (petsinc.org).

The family extends their utmost appreciation to the staff of Carroll Campbell Place, Agape Hospice House, MSA Hospice, and Centerwell.