Margaret Ammons Hayes, 83, of Myrtle Beach and formerly of Nichols, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at Myrtle Beach Grove Senior Living surrounded by her children. She was born in Horry County on September 10, 1941, the daughter of the late Russell Lowell Ammons and the late Blanche McDaniels Ammons.

Margaret was a graduate of Floyds High School, where she played basketball and was a member of a state championship winning team. She spent many years working with J.R. Battle Company, having served in many different capacities there. She eventually retired from the Marion County Library System, where she worked as a bookkeeper. An avid reader for many years, she had an extensive vocabulary which she never lost even as her disease progressed. Her grandchildren were the light of her life, and they will always have the special memories of playing scrabble with her and having tea parties, among other things.

In addition to her parents, Margaret was predeceased by her brothers, Russell Ammons and Hayward Ammons, a sister, Dorothy Ammons Connelly, and the father of her children, James E. "Butch" Hayes.

She is survived by a son, James Emory "Jim" Hayes, Jr. and his wife, Cindy of Marion; daughters, Janet Hayes Powers and her husband, Craig of York, Angela Hayes Victoria and her husband, David of Myrtle Beach, and Cynthia Hayes Shelley of Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Colt Britt, Nic Hayes, Madison Shelley, Abby Victoria, Ivy Victoria, and Kara Kiriluk; and three great-grandchildren, Austin H. Britt, Lexy Dwyer, and Ashtyn Dwyer.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, September 18, 2024, in the sanctuary of Spring Branch Baptist Church in Nichols. Funeral services will follow the visitation beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday in the sanctuary with Reverend David Sealy officiating. Interment will be in Spring Branch Baptist Church Cemetery.

If you would like to remember Margaret, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Spring Branch Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 6710 Church Loop, Nichols, South Carolina 29581 or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 660843, Dallas, Texas 75266 or online at www.komen.org/howtohelp/donate.

An online guestbook is available at www.mearesfh.com.

Meares Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hayes family.