Benetta W. "Bea" Ayres

Benetta W. "Bea" Ayres, 87, of Salem, IL, went home to be with her Lord on February 21, 2026, in the comfort of her daughter's home, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born on June 3, 1938, in Cumberland, KY, the daughter of Benjamin and Nannie (Holbrook) Webb. Her childhood was spent in the hills of eastern Kentucky, along Cram Creek, where family roots ran deep and life was built by hand. Her father, Ben, was one of five Webb brothers whose properties joined one another in the holler, and the family's way of life was shaped by coal mining, farming, and the kind of hard work that was both expected and necessary. It was a close community where people didn't have much, but they shared what they had. Those early years forged in her equal parts grit, generosity, and a steadfast determination that would shape the rest of her life.

That grit showed up early. As a teenager, she was already working in a factory, hand-sanding television cabinets. It was at this point in her life that she met Norman "Norm" Ayres. Bea was just 13 when their paths first crossed. Norm had noticed her before, and when he heard that attending the Nazarene church might lead to dinner at her family's house, he had all the motivation he needed. It turned out to be the beginning of a loving partnership that would last a lifetime. On October 17, 1955, Bea married Norm at just 17 years old. He was 19 and serving in the Marine Corps. She followed him to Camp Lejeune and learned quickly how to adapt to make a home wherever life took them.

Aside from a brief time modeling for an agency in Louisville, Bea spent the years that followed working in factories, doing what she could to help provide for her family. During the Vietnam era, she worked in a bag plant making ammunition, and later, she worked at Philip Morris, where her leadership and strong work ethic led to a promotion to third-shift foreman. More than once, Bea had opportunities to move higher up the ladder, and more than once, she chose home. She turned down another promotion at Philip Morris because she wanted to keep her family as her priority, and she did the same at World Color near the end of her working years. She was fully capable of climbing, but she was more committed to caring for the people she loved.

If Bea was hardworking on the job, she was just as intentional at home. She planned ahead, lined things out, and thought carefully about how to make things work well. She had a natural ability to coordinate, organize, and bring order to what needed attention. Whatever she put her hand to, whether a church project, a room, or a family need, she simply made things better. That’s just who she was. She had a strong backbone and a soft heart, and somehow she could manage the details while still making time for people. She brought both honesty and comfort, both perspective and compassion. The people closest to her knew they could count on her to help shoulder a burden and to bring the kind of clarity that helped them take the next step.

The source of that strength was never Bea alone. When she herself needed help, she turned to Jesus. She and Norm made the Assemblies of God their spiritual home throughout their marriage, and they also made prayer a real and regular part of family life. One of the clearest pictures of that was the table in their foyer, where photos of loved ones were placed as a reminder to pray for them by name. It was a small thing on the surface, but it spoke volumes about Bea. She didn't just carry people in her heart; she carried them to the Lord. And now, the faith that shaped her life has given way to sight. The One she trusted for strength, the One she turned to in prayer, and the One she taught others to trust has welcomed her home.

She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Norman Ayres; by her daughters, Melodie (Steve) Lance, Angie (Steve) Bennett, and Beth (Chris) McKowen; by her grandchildren and their spouses, Amanda (Curt) Goodwine, Keith (Ashley) Bennett, Katie (Nathan) Burnett, Rebecca (Nathan) Kelly, Zachary (Abby) McKowen, Sarah McKowen, and Lauren McKowen; by her great-grandchildren, Knox, Dominick, Jasper, Campbell Faye, Briar, Brecken, Bowyn Maye, Ava, Emily, and Lettie; and by several beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Nannie Webb; her siblings, Norman Webb, Nolan Webb, Mary Lou Sergent, and Faye Simcox; a child in infancy; and her grandson, Benjamin Andrew Lance.

A time of visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27th, at Freedom Church in Salem, IL. Funeral services will immediately follow and be held at 12:00 p.m. with Pastors Dallas Bear and Don Wallace officiating. A committal service at the Paradise Cemetery in Salem will conclude the day's services. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson, IL is assisting the family at this time.