"She was vaccinated but was infected by others who chose not to be.
"The cost was her life."
Mrs Ayers and her husband of almost 43 years, Terry Ayers, were both vaccinated back in March, but Mrs Ayers died just six months later, following a recent trip to Mississippi, a state with a shockingly low vaccination rate of just 42 per cent.
Speaking to CNN, her son Marc said his pro-science parents were excited to receive the protection of the vaccination.
"I took my parents to get that second jab, and we were all so excited," he said.
"We are a family that believes in science. We believe in masks, and we believe in vaccines. "We were ready to get back to normal."
Marc Ayers shared the last picture he had with mum Candace before her death on September 3. Photo / Facebook
Marc Ayers told CNN he believed his mother's death "could have been avoided".
"This could have been prevented by a few acts of kindness," he said.
"They were in a state that had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. Getting a vaccine and wearing a mask for others … had this been done, she would be here today."
In a series of Facebook posts, Marc Ayers has paid tribute to his mum and said he hoped her story "encourages more to get vaccinated, wear a mask, and protect others with pre-existing conditions".
"Nothing can bring back our mum but I'm encouraged to see our story get out which might save lives. I've heard from numerous people that they're getting vaccinated because of this," he posted following extensive media coverage and an outpouring of support for the family.
Candace Ayers is survived by her husband Terry, her children Marc Ayers and Amanda Foster and her triplet 5-year-old grandchildren Andie, Daniel, and Charlotte Foster of Springfield "who were the loves of her life".
One in 500 Americans has now died from Covid, according to the latest Johns Hopkins University data.
