Tega Cay, SC – Joyce Lynn Garrett Ayers, died Monday, May 19, 2025. Born February 9, 1933 in Grove Station, SC at her home, as were her twelve brothers and sisters. Joyce was the twelfth of thirteen children born to her parents, Cary Geneva Poole Garrett and Clifton Lee Garrett. Joyce graduated from Grove Elementary and Piedmont High School. Joyce accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at age 12, while attending Grove Station Baptist Church. Her faith only grew deeper and greater throughout her life, a pure example of a Proverbs 31 woman.
In high school she excelled academically as well as in basketball, softball and theater, starring as “Beth”, in Little Women and it was said that no one in the audience had a dry eye after her performance. After education, Joyce worked for the Greenville Department of Education, IT office.
While in high school, Joyce met her husband and the absolute love of her life, Jerry Ayers. They were happily married for 68 years, until his passing in 2022. Their marriage was the very example of a selfless marriage, filled with love and laughter. During her life with Jerry, Joyce lived in Norfolk, Va, during Jerry’s Naval years. They returned to SC for Jerry to attend and graduate from Clemson University. Joyce and Jerry moved to Rock Hill, SC; Louisville, Ky; Augusta, Ga. and Asheboro, NC and returning to Rock Hill. While in Asheboro, Joyce was employed by the Asheboro Public Library, where she reorganized the library’s book filing system. During her years in Rock Hill, Joyce was employed by the SC Instructional TV office. Joyce learned to love early computer technology which provided her with skills that later in life proved her to be quite the savvy IPhone and Ipad nonagenarian.
Joyce’s greatest two joys in her life were her family and cooking. When the two of these joys were combined, her family was the welcomed recipient. Joyce was featured in both the Augusta Herald and Rock Hill Times newspapers for her cooking prowess. Never was there a Sunday, where after church, did her four children and husband not enjoy a full dinner meal of fried chicken or Sunday roast. Joyce was also a very accomplished seamstress; sewing, smocking and knitting clothing for her children and grandchildren.
Surviving Joyce are her son, Dr. Jerry Lee Ayers, Jr, his wife, Diana Best Ayers; her son, Gregory Steven Ayers, his wife, Susan Limerick Ayers; her daughter, Susan Ayers Wilson, her husband, Dr. William Ernest Wilson and her daughter, Kimberly Ayers Kniska, her husband, Gregory Michael Kniska. Joyce is also survived by eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren, all of whom are the beneficiaries of her endless love and devotion that will carry her legacy forward. Joyce is predeceased by her infant sons, Cary Lyn Ayers and Gary Lee Ayers; parents, Geneva Poole Garrett and Clifton Lee Garrett and husband and love of her life, Jerry Lee Ayers, Sr, as well as eight brothers and four sisters.
The Ayers family would like to thank Dr. Saad Usmani and Dr. Cindy Varga of the Levine Cancer Center of Charlotte, NC for their professional and compassionate care of Joyce, as well as all the nurses of Levine Cancer Center, Atrium Health Hospital of Charlotte, especially Dr Jon Gee, and the Wellmore Rehabilatory Center of Fort Mill.
Words cannot express the family’s deepest gratitude to Agape Hospice of Rock Hill, especially Lori for her care, love and devotion to our Mother and to our family. Finally, HomeWatch Caregivers especially Lisa, Susan, Thomassina, Liz, Kenyota and Lois became not just professional caregivers but part of the family which made our Mother’s final weeks easier during difficult times.
Joyce Ayers funeral service will be held 11 am, Friday, May 30, 2025 at Unity Presbyterian Church, 303 Tom Hall Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715 where Joyce was a member. A graveside burial will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery in Rock Hill, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Joyce’s name to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, www.themmrf.org or Agape Hospice Care of Rock Hill, www.agapecaregoup.com.
Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel of Rock Hill is assisting the family. Condolences may be made to the Ayers family at www.greenefuneralhome.net