Beloved chaplain was known for his ‘big heart’

ASHEBORO — Known as a man who “never met a stranger,” Dwight Ayres was honored posthumously at his funeral with membership in the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

The award was presented to Ayres' wife Brenda during the funeral at Balfour Baptist Church, where he served as minister of outreach for many years. 

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is the highest honor given to a citizen of North Carolina.

“Dwight was a fantastic man who had one of the biggest hearts of anyone I’ve known,” said Allen McNeill, who served for many years with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office while Ayres was the volunteer chaplain.

“He never met a stranger,” McNeill said of Ayres. “He would help anyone who needed it. He was a good all-around man.”

Ayres was educated at Trinity High School and High Point College before earning a masters degree and two doctorates from Christian Bible College and Seminary. 

He was ordained by Balfour Baptist Church and served voluntarily as chaplain for several law enforcement agencies, a fire department and an emergency services agency.

His obituary said, “Dwight was the chaplain for the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary 107th Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol in Asheboro. He faithfully ministered to the residents of Alpine Health and Rehabilitation Center from 1976 until 2020. He reached out to shut-ins on weekly devotional radio broadcasts on WKXR — Happy Thoughts and Golden Age Hour — and delivered meals with the Meals on Wheels program in Randolph County.

“Dwight also had a heart for young people, serving as Awana Commander, leading kids to Christ. He also was the District Collection Station Director for Operation Christmas Child, overseeing the collection and logistics for up to 20,000 shoe boxes each year.”

When McNeill retired from the Sheriff’s Office, he decided to run for the NC House of Representatives. “When I ran for the Legislature, Dwight was a strong advocate and gave me his support,” McNeill said.

Ayres was diagnosed a few months ago with cancer and began taking treatments, according to McNeill. “I called him and he said he had lung cancer and had never smoked.” 

McNeill said he talked to Ayres’ son, Harold, recently and asked about Dwight. Harold said his father was holding his own. But the next day, Ayres died.

Ayres is gone now but his legacy lives on, not only with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine but in the hearts of so many friends he made during his 79 years.