Judith Martha "Judy" Hanckel Middleton

Judith "Judy" Martha Hanckel Middleton

Judith "Judy" Martha Hanckel Middleton, 79, died peacefully surrounded by her family Monday, September 30, 2024, at home. Her funeral service will be held October 5, 2024 in St. Philip's Church, 142 Church Street at 11 A.M. Interment will be in the churchyard followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Visitation for friends and family will be held on Friday October 4, 2024, at J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, located at 232 Calhoun St. from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M.

Judy was born June 12, 1945, the daughter of Dr. Richard White Hanckel, Jr. and Ruth Farmer Hanckel. After attending Charleston Day School and St. Mary's in Peekskill, NY, she graduated from Ashley Hall. She attended college at St. Mary's in Raleigh, NC, and graduated from the University of South Carolina where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. 

Judy married her high school sweetheart, Philip Alston Middleton, in 1966, and they returned home to Charleston after he completed law school and service in the U.S. Army in 1971.

She served as the treasurer for the Junior League of Charleston. She was a member of the Carolina Assembly, Colonial Dames, Ladies Benevolent Society, Ivy Garden Club and St. Philip's Altar Guild.

Judy worked for Historic Charleston Foundation from 1979 - 2012 as the Nathaniel Russell House Administrator. While there she was responsible for training, scheduling and supervising 30 museum docents and master gardeners. Under her watchful eye she implemented the care of the garden including the planting of seasonable bulbs ensuring that it was the premier garden located downtown and open to the public. She greeted guests from around the world always graciously welcoming them and sharing her love of the history, architecture and collections of the house. An excellent hostess, Judy would plan elegant events that would charm donors and locals alike, sometimes including the use of her own porcelain and silver. Judy was a stalwart figure in the repair of the Russell House following Hurricane Hugo, and its restoration following the studies by multiple consultants regarding paint and other details of the house in the early 2000’s.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Philip Alston Middleton, and her 3 children, Philip Alston Middleton, Jr. (Robin), Martha Izard Middleton Wallace (Brad), Anne Simons Middleton Rose (Keith), her grandchildren, Philip Alston Middleton III (Julia), Ruth Chandler Middleton, Emma Judith Wallace, Hannah Middleton Wallace, Elizabeth Blakley Herron, Nicholas Sebastian Herron, Jr., William Middleton Rose, Charles Middleton Temple Rose, her brothers Richard White Hanckel III, Christian Stuart Hanckel (Margaret), she is predeceased, by her parents Richard White Hanckel, Jr., Ruth Farmer Hanckel, and her sister, Ellen Jervey Hanckel.

She spent many summers in Flatrock, NC. She loved traveling in Europe visiting France, Belgium, England and Italy. She especially loved spending time on Wadmalaw Island from her youth - boating, picking crab, shrimp, and feasting on oysters, clams and other fruits of the sea from the Leadenwah Creek, and she was famous for her Charlotte Rousse. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Philip’s Church, 142 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401.