Obituaries

Diane Brown Ayres

Photo of Diane Brown Ayres
Diane Brown Ayres, 86, of Pine Bluff, AR died Monday, November 13, 2017. Born in Memphis, TN, September 26, 1931 to the late William Thomas and Louise Cartwright Brown, she grew up in Greenville, MS graduating from Greenville High School in 1943. She attended Ward Belmont Jr. College and graduated from Millsaps College in 1953. She was an active member of Chi Omega sorority. Diane married the, the love of her life, the late W.E. Ayres June 10, 1953 in Greenville, MS and moved to Pine Bluff in 1954 where they resided ever since. Diane was passionate about her family, friends, church, and Pine Bluff. As a lifelong Methodist, she and W.E. loved Lakeside UMC. Together they taught Sunday School and participated in leadership and volunteer positions. As a team, they were committed to Pine Bluff through numerous committees and boards of community organizations. One of her greatest pleasures in serving was being a part of creating and supporting the Pine Bluff Symphony Orchestra. Other organizations she advocated were SEARK and Trinity Village. Mrs. Ayres was also a member of several study clubs including Hawthorne Book Club, Sesame Club, and Jr. Sesame Club. As passionate as she was about church and community, her family and friends were always her priority. Other loves of Mrs. Ayres included sewing, trout fishing at Calico Rock with family and friends, and traveling with W.E.. Her sewing in earlier years included tailored suits, coats, and nearly everything she wore. When grandchildren arrived, she learned French hand-sewing. More recently, her creative interests moved toward working on her computer organizing, recording, and saving family records and pictures, as well as creating extensive albums for all her family. Mrs. Ayres' artistic abilities were apparent in her personalized greeting cards for family and friends. Her survivors include her daughter, Cathy Zimmerman of Boulder, CO; son, Tim and Leigh Ann Ayres of Atlanta, GA; five grandchildren, Emma Zimmerman and Gus Zimmerman of Boulder, CO and Ashlyn Ayres Ellington (David), Wesley Ayres, and Cartwright Ayres of Atlanta, GA. Services are 1:30 pm, Monday November 20,2017 at Lakeside United Methodist Church with Reverend Steven Wingo officiating. Burial will be private. Arrangements were handled by Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors (online register: www.ralphrobinsonandsons.com) Donations can be made to Trinity Village, Inc., 6400 Trinity Drive, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603, in memory of Diane B. Ayres.

Published November 17, 2017

Upcoming Events