Mr. James L. Ayers, age 81, Jonesborough, passed away Sunday, October 1, 2017 at Johnson City Medical Center.
Mr. Ayers was born April 24, 1936 in Green Mountain, NC and the son of the late John H. & Elva Bailey Ayers. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Faye Ledford and a brother, Richard Ayers.
His family moved to Maryland when he was 5 years old, where he went to school before moving back to Tennessee. He retired from TPI Corporation.
He attended Dry Creek Free Will Baptist Church. In his life, God was first and family next. He loved to travel back to Maryland and Pennsylvania, where he liked to visit his friends and where he grew up and went to school.
Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Velma Freemen Ayers, Jonesborough; son, Chris J. Ayers and fiancé, Audrey Miller; sisters and brothers-in-law, Charlsie & Cecil Garland and Lois & Dickie Kyker; brother, Wayne Ayers; niece, Naomi Harrell; nephews, Larry & Johnny Garland, Richard Kyker and Travis & Mark Ayers; friends, Phillip Kemp, Jeff Payne, Ethel Slagle, Jean Hawkins and Richard & Lisa Story.
The family would like to extend a very special thank you to Dr. Mangenelli and staff, Hannah and Kim, and Washington County EMS.
Funeral services will be conducted 7:00 pm Thursday, October 5, 2017 at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home with Pastor Bobby Miller, Mr. Bobby Freeman and Mr. Donnie Harris officiating. Music will be provided by the Dry Creek Singers and Donnie and sandy Harris. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm Thursday prior to the service.
Interment services will be conducted 2:00 pm Friday, October 6, 2017 at Fairview Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Richard Story, Chason Freeman, Larry Garland, Johnny Garland, Richard Kyker, Vestal Freeman, Leroy Freeman, David Freeman and Bobby Freeman. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Dry Creek Free Will Baptist Church, Virgil Norton, Mack Wilson, Jacob Slagle, Billie Blevins, John Markland, Eddie Slagle, Darrell Story and Phillip Kemp.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital 501 St. Jude’s Place Memphis, TN 38105.