22, 2019.
Born December 7, 1929, to John Clifford Ayers, Sr., and Fleetwood Causey Ayers, Dr.
Ayers was raised on a farm in the Mount Olive community of Horry County, South
Carolina. He graduated from Duke University and Duke University School of Medicine.
He spent 14 years in private practice in Cave City, Kentucky, then moved to New Bern
in 1971, where he practiced for 46 years. During his career, Dr. Ayers served as Adjunct
Clinical Faculty at Duke University School of Medicine and at East Carolina University
Brody School of Medicine. He cherished his work as a physician and was privileged to
care for patients until his retirement at age 87 from CarolinaEast Internal Medicine.
Many can attest to his gift as a diagnostician. His gentle bedside manner and healing
hands touched thousands who were blessed to be in his care.
He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Lynesa Laursen Ayers; sons David
Lawrence Ayers (Teresa) of Jackson, Mississippi, and John Coleman Ayers (Anna
Callon) of Washington, DC; and daughter Karen Dunn Lancaster (Marshall) of Silver
Spring, Maryland. He is also survived by six grandchildren; Sarah Elizabeth Ayers, John
D. Ayers, Coleman Ayers, David Ayers, Laursen Victoria Lancaster and Anna Page
Lancaster. He leaves behind one sister, Donna Ayers Batten and husband, John of
Nichols, South Carolina.
His long and fulfilling life was enhanced by the people he encountered along his
journey, and were all enriched by his impact on their lives. While he loved to travel,
especially to the Yorkshire Dales of England and the Coast of Maine, he most enjoyed
sitting on his own back patio watching the flowers grow, listening to the birds sing, and
raising a glass with friends and family.
The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at Cotten Funeral
Home in New Bern, followed by a funeral service at 4 p.m. in the Cotten Funeral Home
chapel. Services will be led by Pastor Mike Bostian, Chaplain of CarolinaEast Medical
Center, and Dr. Steve Simpson, Senior Pastor of River Bend Baptist Church, where Dr.
Ayers was a member. Burial will follow on Monday, May 27 at 1 p.m. in the cemetery of
Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Nichols, South Carolina.
The family is grateful for the loving friendships of his pallbearers; J. Matthew Smith,
MD, David McKeon, Robert Arthur, Jerry Midyette, Andre Dixon, Ray Herring and Bob
Lee.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Joseph Hageman Memorial Nursing
Scholarship Fund at CarolinaEast Medical Center, 2000 Neuse Blvd., New Bern, North
Carolina, 28561 or to Mount Olive Baptist Church, 1950 Mount Olive Church Road,
Nichols, South Carolina 29581.
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