With deep sorrow, we share the passing of our founder and chairman, Jim Ayers—a devoted husband, father, grandfather, businessman, banker, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and friend to so many. Jim’s unwavering dedication to education and rural communities transformed countless lives across Tennessee.
In 1999, he established The Ayers Foundation in part to guarantee that no child from his hometown of Parsons, Tennessee, would be denied a college education due to lack of funds.
Since then, the Ayers Foundation Trust has worked to directly support thousands of rural Tennessee students — helping each student develop a plan to reach their goals, whether it be an apprenticeship, the military, a workforce certificate, or a college degree.
To honor Jim’s memory and his lifelong dedication to education, Ayers Foundation Trust created the annual Torchbearer award to recognize an Ayers Scholar making significant impact within their community. Click the button below to learn more.
