Margaret Ann "O'Day" Ayers

Margaret Ann O'Day Ayers passed away on Monday, February 16th, 2026 following a sudden illness.

Born on December 6, 1949 in Columbia, South Carolina, Margaret grew up as an Army brat. The family moved to Alabama, then Taiwan, Germany, Mississippi and back to Columbia. After meeting her husband Thomas in nursing school at University of South Carolina, they were married in 1971. Margaret graduated with a BS in Nursing and gave birth to her first born, Richard. In 1975, they had their second son, Patrick, moved to Gainesville, Georgia in 1978, and had their third child, daughter, Katrina, in 1980.

After Katrina was diagnosed with autism, Margaret focused on raising her and her two boys. In 1993, the family moved to North Carolina for better treatment for Katrina. Margaret returned to nursing in 1998, working at Carolina's Medical Center in Charlotte until retiring in 2014.

Margaret was a beautiful, loving and giving person who always loved trips to the mountains, traveling, country drives and visiting her family in Georgia. She was a two-time breast cancer survivor who always put others before herself.

Mrs. Ayers is preceded in death by her parents, John P. O'Day and Ilse Damant O'Day, brother John P. O'Day III, and daughter, Katrina Reba Ayers.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas R. Ayers, sons, Richard Ayers (Christy) and Patrick Ayers (Rachel), grandsons Drew Dockter, Liam Ayers and Thomas G. Ayers, brothers Louie O'Day and George O'Day (Ann), sister Beatrice West, and nephews Wayne and Michael West, as well as many loving family members and friends.

Funeral services will be held in the Chapel at Memorial Park Funeral Home - Main, 2030 Memorial Park Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30504, on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 12:00PM, with a visitation at 11:00AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Margaret's honor to the American Cancer Society.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30504 is in charge of the arrangements.

Send online condolences to memorialparkfuneralhomes.com