Opal Marie Atkins Ayers

Mrs. Opal Marie Atkins Ayers, 78, of 161 Welcome Baptist Church Road, Mount Airy, passed away Monday morning, September 14, 2009, at Alleghany Care and Rehabilitation Center in Sparta. Mrs. Ayers was born December 13, 1930, in Grayson County, VA, to the late Raymond and Hallie Sexton Adkins. Marie retired as an administrative assistant from Moody Funeral Services, Inc. after 30 years of service and was a member of Welcome Baptist Church. She was a very talented musician, serving as pianist for many local churches and gospel groups. She also taught piano lessons to many young folks in the area, and she accompanied many vocalists for funerals while employed at the funeral home. She is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Eddie and Kerry Ayers of Gladesboro, VA, and Eric and Tammy Ayers and Toby Ayers, all of Mount Airy; five grandchildren, Jacob Ayers, Tamara Ayers, Lance Ayers, Cody Ayers, and Logann Ayers; a great-grandchild, Kenadie Grace Ayers; and two brothers and a sister-in-law, Larry and Karen Shepherd of Auburn, WA, and Calvin Lester Adkins. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Ayers was preceded in death by her husband, Ulysses Edward Ayers; and two brothers, James Lee Shockley and Thurman Shockley. A service to celebrate the life of Marie will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2009, at 7:00 PM at Welcome Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bailey Elmore and the Rev. Jimmy Slate officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday at the church from 6:00 PM until the hour of the service. Burial will follow on Thursday morning, September 17, 2009, at 10:00 AM at Skyline Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.