Barbara J. Ayers

Barbara J. Ayers, age 88, passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at her residence. Born in Dover to the late Russell W. and Ethel E. (Richards) Smith, Mrs. Ayers lived in Sussex County most of her life. She is a member of Lafayette Federated Church, where she was active in their Bible Study and MOPS Program. Mrs. Ayers was a former member of the Frankford Plains United Methodist Church. At the church, she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, a member of the church's choir, church secretary, and ran the fish and chips dinner for many years.Besides her parents, Mrs. Ayers was predeceased by her sister, Betty Smith Rost. She is survived by her "high school sweetheart" and devoted husband of 67 years, Dolson "Doc" Ayers, Sr.; her daughter, Dianne Drew and her husband Robert of Layayette; her son, Dolson "Howard" Ayers, Jr. of Fife, Washington; her brothers, Russell "Butch" Smith of Bradenton, Florida and Ronnie Smith and his wife Johanna of Stevensville, Montana; her grandchildren, Kyle Drew and his wife Sarah of Frankford, Patrick Drew and his wife Keara of Damascus, PA, Kristin Carucci and her husband Jim of Philadelphia, PA, Lauren Conklin and her husband Ernie of Wantage, Jenna Bruffy and her husband Kyle of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Mackenzie Ayers of Fife, Washington; and her great grandchildren, Jacob, Gavin, Benjamin, Brantley, Tanner, Taylor, Cara, Alivia, Mikayla, Brady, Chase, Jase, Ellie, and Finley.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at the Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank Street (Route 23), Sussex. Interment to immediately follow at Frankford Plains Cemetery. Friends may pay their respects to the family on Sunday prior to the service from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Barbara Ayers' memory to Christian Appalachian Project, P.O. Box 55911, Lexington, KY 40555-5911 or to the Lafayette Federated Church, 180 Route 15, Lafayette, NJ 07848. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.pinkelfuneralhome.com