Although he was a Parsons, TN native, Jim Ayers had much impact on banking in Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee, across the state, and beyond its borders—FirstBank founder Jim Ayers passed away at age 81. The founder of FirstBank and Tennessee philanthropist Jim Ayers died after dealing with health issues for several years.

During his lifetime, Ayers founded FirstBank, was the CEO of the bank and later became a philanthropist to help causes in Tennessee. In the last couple of years, Ayers was named Nashvillian of the Year by Easterseals of Tennessee. In 2024, he was inducted into the Nashville’s Entrepreneur Center’s Hall of Fame.

In 1999, he established The Ayers Foundation in West Tennessee in Parsons, which was his hometown.

The longtime banker is most known for his purchase of a small, rural West Tennessee bank in 1984 — and turning it into what is now a $13.16 billion bank, FirstBank.

Jim Ayers grew up in rural West Tennessee in the town of Parsons and early on he was introduced by his parents to the rewards of an honest day of hard work. As he grew up to become one of the state’s most successful and admired businessmen, as well as a leading philanthropist, he never forgot the lessons he learned as a young boy.

Before his time at FirstBank, he worked as a salesman, a controller at a nursing home, owned a nursing home business and partnered to buy Farmers State Bank. He sold his half to later acquire First National Bank of Lexington.

Afterwards, Ayers went to change the name to FirstBank, which went on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016.

In lieu of flowers, the Ayers family requested all memorial donations be made to The Ayers Foundation Trust, 643 South Tennessee Avenue, Parsons, TN 38363.