Jacob Sowers Ayers

Jacob “Jake” Sowers Ayers, 91, died July 15, 2026 at Skyline Medical Center in Nashville. He was the youngest of five children born in Lexington, North Carolina to Spurgeon and Ola Ayers.

Jacob graduated from Lexington High School (North Carolina), Stetson University (Florida) and attended Southern Baptist Seminary (Kentucky). He was retired from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Disability Determination Services but the position he spoke of often and most fondly was as the Minister of Music at Glasgow Baptist Church from 1959-1967. His greatest joy was working with the children’s choirs.

After living in Louisville for most of his adult life, Jacob moved to Highland Ridge in June 2025. The highlight of his days over the past year in Glasgow was reconnecting with many of the children, now adults, from his earlier days at Glasgow Baptist Church.

Jacob is survived by his sister-in-law, Katherine Ayers and nieces Suzan, Teressa, Evelyn and Sarah in North Carolina and Alejandro and Celia in Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother Blanche Ayers; his brothers Spurgeon Jr., Joseph, Don; his sister Dulcie Epley; two nephews, one niece, and his adopted mother and brother Wilma Groce and Johnny Douglas Groce of Glasgow and Louisville.

Jacob’s love for children extended beyond the choir room. He was especially tender hearted toward children who were facing severe medical issues; therefore, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

Services will be held at Hatcher and Saddler Funeral Home in Glasgow at 12 noon on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 with a graveside service at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, July 25, 2026.