Jack E. Ayers Papers

Collection

Identifier: MU-PP-0002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Most of the letters in this collection relate to a member of “The Greatest Generation” and “The Girl He Left Behind”—but later married. This collection contains many letters between Mr. Ayers to his wife, Daphne, as well as from family members and friends. There are also copies of Mr. Ayers’ Veterans Administration Financial Records, photographs, mixed materials, notebooks, eyeglasses, lists, booklets, and cards.

Dates

Creation: 1942-1953

Creator

Ayers, Jack, 1923-2003 (Person)

Conditions Governing Use

To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult the reference archivist to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.

Biographical / Historical

Jack Ayers was born on September 7, 1923 in Akron, OH. At some point in his early life, Mr. Ayers moved from Akron to Evans County, Georgia.

Mr. Ayers was baptized at Evans Baptist Church in Evans County in August 1934. He attended Evans High School. He began his formal education at Brewton-Parker Junior College and attended from 1940-1942. There is no record of him receiving a degree from the school. He then attended Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, from 1942-1947, where he received an A.B. degree. During his time at Furman, Mr. Ayers also served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1943-1945. He also attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas from 1947-1952, where he earned a B.D.

Mr. Ayers was ordained at Harmony Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 1, 1948. He went on to pastor Baptist churches in Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas. He served as the Director of Missions for the Dodge County Baptist Association (1966-1972) and the Central Georgia Area of the Georgia Baptist Convention (1972-1989).

Mr. Ayers was married to Daphne Kirkland from November 11, 1945, until her death in 1984. The couple had 4 children. Mr. Ayers was married to Marion “Bunny” Martin from 1985 until his death on August 17, 2003.