Jesse James Ayers

Jesse James Ayers, 83, a native of Richmond, Va., and resident of Houma, died at 6:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to funeral time Thursday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral. Military service will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the church. Mass will be at noon Thursday at the church. He is survived by his wife, Rita Saia Ayers of Houma; two daughters, Judy Bryant and husband, Gerald Sr., and Linda Ayers of Houma; one brother, Harvey Ayers of North Carolina; one sister, Bootie Ayers Davis of North Carolina; four grandchildren, Gerald Bryant Jr. and wife, Tammy, Trent C. Bryant, Tammy Bryant Spaulding and husband, Tony, and Scott C. Ayers; and three great-grandchildren, Gabrielle Bryant, Bethany Bryant and Tristen Ayers. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kirby Ayers and Ida Jones Ayers; two sons, Robert J. Ayers and Jesse L. "Butch" Ayers; two brothers, Oak Ayers and Roy Lee Ayers; and four sisters, Gertrude Ayers, Hattie Ayers Hall, Hassie Ayers Holiday and Helen Ayers Gibson. He was a retired terminal manager with Saia and air traffic controller at the Blimp Base in Houma. He was a member of Alhamber Church Group, the Knights of Columbus St. Francis 4th degree knight, faithful navigator of Knights of Columbus for two years, a lifetime member of the VFW and decorated the church for eight years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a parishioner of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Plaza, Memphis, TN 38105 or charity of ones choice.