Franklin County Marshall Chris Ayers Loses Battle With Cancer

Franklin County is mourning the passing of County Marshall Chris Ayers.

Ayers died early Monday morning at Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer.

He was retired from the U.S. Air Force and became a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy in 1999. He had been the Franklin County Marshall since 2001.

At the Franklin County Commission meeting Monday night, County Manager Beth Thomas announced his passing at the Franklin County Board of Commission meeting Monday evening.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of our County Marshall, Chris Ayers. Chris dedicated his life to public service. He was in the military. He was a police officer and he was the County Marshall. Chris was appointed the first and only Marshall of Franklin County. I’ve had the honor to know Chris for the past five years and I would like to recognize his service, his passion, and his love for Franklin County,” Thomas said.

After her announcement, the Board held a moment of silence in Ayers’ memory.

Commissioner Robert Franklin then recalled how Ayers helped him when a tornado came through Red Hill and damaged his home.

“The first person to my house was Chris Ayers wanting to know if my family was OK,” Franklin recalled. “I had damage to my roof and I told him, ‘Chris I have insurance and you’re not going to get up on my roof because somebody could get hurt.’  And he said, ‘Mr. Franklin, I’ll be glad to get on that roof and put tarps on it.’ Folks, I’ll never forget that day that the County Marshall came to my house.”

Funeral Services will be 11am Friday morning at the B. D. Ginn Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Tommy Cleveland and the Rev. Philip Blinson officiating.

Interment will be in the family cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Ginn Funeral Home in Carnesville from 6 until 8pm Thursday evening.

Condolences may be left at ginnfuneralhome.com.

Chris Ayers was 58.