April 19, 2019 Coats Museum News
The date on the 1976 calendar indicated that summer was approaching but not before the seniors at Coats High School had walked across the stage to be handed a diploma. They would be led down the auditorium aisle by their selected mascots –Karen Lawrence and Douglas Sorrell. Those walking across the stage with the distinct honor of being the “Bicentennial Class” were Cathy Ann Ammons, Karen Lynn Barbour, Jamie Louise Barnes, Jennifer Mae Barnes, Ronnie Hearley Barnes, Rhonda Kathleen Byrd, Tony Curtis Byrd, Phillip Devon Charles, Versia Mae Carter, Sharon Kay Clayton, William Jean-Mari Coats, Teresa Ann Cooke, Timothy Martin Denning, Dudley Thomas Denning, Douglas Earl Dennis, Andy Thomas Faircloth, Diane Leigh Flowers, Kenneth Edward Godwin, Andy Lewis Hawley, Nell Davis Hawley, Roy Keith Jones, Jacob Benton Joyner, Jr., Millard Ward Lamm, Jr., Edna Susan Matthews, Cathy Dean McLamb, Danny Keith McLamb, Sherry Annette McLeod, Costella McNeill, Linda Lou McNeill, Cynthia Ann Norris, Connie Diane Norris, Julia Elizabeth Norris, Peggy Denton Parker, Mark Anthony Parrish, Jenia Louellen Rowland, Marion Antoinette Salamoni, Gregory Shannon, Kathy Elaine Sills, Debbie Jean Sorrell, William Ralvin Spears, Daphne Darlene Stevens, Mark Stevens, Ernest Ravon Stone, Sharon Rose Strickland, Shelia Ann Strickland, Kathy Taylor, Doris Eller Turlington, Jimmy Scott Walker, JoAnn Williams, and Patsy Dale Young ( 1976 Coats High School Echoing Memories).
Do you have faded memories of the Senior Photo-Journalism Class at Coats High School publishing a paperback book of poetry? The ten students were Janie Barnes, Julia Norris, Diane Norris, Darlene Stevens, Jenia Rowland, Mike Capps, Milliard Lamm, Toni Salamoni, Sharon Clayton, and Mamie Zabchuck. Can you guess what teacher was in charge of this group of students? That was likely an easy question since Marie Salmon was known countywide for her ability to bring out the best in her students by using creative teaching techniques (Daily Record June 8, 1976).
Was Mamie Zabchuck a new student at Coats or was it one of Marie’s jokes? I taught these students and did not have her in my English classes. I do know that Miss Cheri Byrd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Byrd, was crowned Miss Coats Jr. Order. The first runner-up was Julia Norris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Norris. Second runner-up was Miss Renee Neighbors, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Neighbors (Daily Record June 11, 1976).
A wedding was on the calendar for Carole and Elder A.D. McGee’s daughter-Angela Carole McGee. Angela was to marry Randy Edward Holmes, son of Mrs. Evelyn Holmes of Coats (Daily Record June 12, 1976).
Victor Penny, 85, of Willow Springs, had died. His services were held at Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church. Three sons –Graham, Lemay and Edsel Penny and one daughter-Mrs. M.T. Sullivan survived him. Mr. Penny was the son of the late H.H. and Unity Coats Penny. His only surviving sibling was Mrs. Mary Coats of Coats (Daily Record June 15, 1976).
The former Lazona Gale Walden and wife of John Wesley Spears, Jr. announced the birth of a son, Jonathan Wesley Spears. The baby was born at Betsy Johnson Hospital on June 14 (Daily Record June 16, 1976). Gale was the first African-American town commissioner in Coats.
Dr. Anne Moore was a candidate for the N.C. Senate from the Harnett County District. The candidate said “It’s been delightful. The nicest thing is meeting the people.” (Daily Record June 17, 1976)
Mrs. Mack Reid Hudson, Cultural Arts Chairman of the National Extension Homemakers Council, presented Governor James Holshouser, Jr. a copy of the Treasure Trails in the USA (Daily Record June 18, 1976).
Laura Maria Costellanos won a coveted award at her graduation from St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, VA. The Bishop Brown Ellett award was given for the best work in the area of writing. Laura planned to return to NC and attend Salem College in Winston-Salem. While Laura was graduating from St. Catherine’s School, a Coats student made the news. Tony Curtis Byrd was engaged to Pamela Faye Parker of Benson. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parker of Benson (Daily Record June 23, 1976). Who remembers having Laura or Tony in your classes? You do know that Laura was sister to Alex Castellanos and daughter of Dr. Jose Castellonos who practiced medicine in Coats for many years.
The Coats United Methodist Church had a new minister, Rev. William (Bill) Howard Altman, Jr. The twenty-four –year old Altman had been ordained only seventeen days. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Altman of Dunn. Elsewhere in the Coats area, Jennifer Elaine Dixon’s engagement to Danny Lane Hedgepeth was announced by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Dixon, Jr., of Coats also. Danny was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hedgepeth (Daily Record June 24, 1976).
Do you recall that many people in Coats were asking for a vote on sale of beer and wine in town? The June 28, 1976 edition of the Daily Record wrote that the voting date was set for August 17 to approve the sale of beer and wine to be consumed.
We read so many obituaries today of young people dying and we often question “Why?” The death of a twenty year-old man from Durham touched the hearts of many in Coats. Robert Edward Johnson had died on a Monday near Beaufort, NC. He was an engineering student at NC State University and was the recipient of the Boy of The Year award from Durham YMCA in 1972. He was the son of the late Edison Johnson who had been an outstanding Coats High School graduate. He was grandson of Mrs. Mamie Weeks Johnson of Coats (Daily Record July 7, 1976). Again-we ask “Why?”
I do know that Kenneth Wayne Wood, 19 year –old Coats youth, was killed in a one car accident on the Johnston-Harnett County line (Daily Record July 12, 1976).
Sheree Wise, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Wise, was engaged to marry Donnie Paul Parker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Parker of Coats (Daily Record July 15, 1976). Many of you know the name Sheree Parker from her working at WCKB and others know Paul from his years of being an electrician with the Harnett Board of Education. The Coats Museum volunteers know him from his serving on our board of directors and his always dropping by to make our day happy.
Death visited three families in July affecting Coats folks. Mrs. Ava Peacock, 65, of Route One Coats, had died on Saturday. Services were at Bethel Primitive Baptist Church and burial was in the church cemetery. Her husband, David Peacock, and son, Kenneth, and daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, survived her. Mrs. Alda Grimes was her sister (Daily Record July 19, 1976).
The second death was in the family of Edward Harmon, 45, of Fayetteville. He was a retired gunner in the US Marines. He was a former resident of Coats (Daily Record July 22, 1976). Was he a relative of the current Coats Harmon family?
The next Coats family to be stung by death was that of Jimmy F. Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson was fifty years old and had died on a Saturday. His funeral was held at the Gift Primitive Baptist Church and burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Vera Norris Ferguson. His seven daughters were Mrs. Pete Norris, Mrs. Jesse Jackson, Mrs. Bobby Matthews, Miss Annette Ferguson, Miss Juanita Ferguson, and Miss Becky Ferguson. His four sons were Glenn, Danny and Larry Ferguson. (Who was the fourth son?) (Daily Record July 28, 1976)
A pig picking was held in the American Legion Building in Dunn for Representative Jimmy Love. Harnett Democratic Chairman Ronald Coats and H.A. Turlington attended the event. The NC DOT announced the improvements were to be made on the railroad crossing just east on NC 55 by Durham and Southern RR Co.(Daily Record July 27, 1976).
Youth Revival services were conducted by David Langdon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Langdon. The graduate of Coats High School and the Johnston Technical Institute attended the United Methodist Church in Coats (Daily record July 29, 1976).
Some more good news was that Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Williams and one year-old Thomas Allen Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Carlie Wade Sears and four month-old son Jason Kent Sears were among the “Eckerd Babies of the Month” (Daily Record July 30, 1976).
On the world front in July 1976, the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam was proclaimed and Saigon was officially named Ho Chi Minh City. Israel launched its daring mission to rescue about 100 passengers and Air France crew members held at Entebbe Airport in Uganda by pro-Palestinian hijackers. Lastly, an earthquake in China’s Tangsham province killed an estimated 695,000 people.
It is really a small world. While visiting Virginia Beach to see our young grandson perform in the Virginia Chorus at the Virginia Beach Performing Arts Center there, we were approached by one of the volunteers at the center. She thought she was seeing things as did we. The volunteer was Judy Byrd Brady who was the daughter of the late Rev. Ralph and Mrs. Byrd and sister to Billie Jean, Patsy, Sherry, Larry and Ronnie. After attending Campbell and ECU, Judy would later teach and retire at Cox High School in Virginia Beach. Judy was cheerleader when at Coats High School and continues to have her bubbly personality and to use it to give back to the community by volunteering at the center.
A special thank you goes to another tireless volunteer and board member at the Coats Museum. Linda Cobb, a lifelong friend, has given a memorial to honor the memory of Sue Johnson Richey, a 1955 Coats High graduate. Because of the generosity of people such as Linda and Ralph Denning who also gave a memorial for Sue Richey, the museum is able to operate without having to have fundraisers. Thank you, Ralph, Linda and others who give so freely.
Whether looking at items in the exhibit cabinets in the Kress and Nell Penny Williams Exhibit Hall or meandering through the Cotton Museum, names that can be seen on many items are Fletcher and Verle Flowers. The late couple, and now their children, have given financially and donated countless items from day one of the original museum. Conrey and Sarah Flowers, thank you for your donation and continued support to the museum last week.
The date on the 1976 calendar indicated that summer was approaching but not before the seniors at Coats High School had walked across the stage to be handed a diploma. They would be led down the auditorium aisle by their selected mascots –Karen Lawrence and Douglas Sorrell. Those walking across the stage with the distinct honor of being the “Bicentennial Class” were Cathy Ann Ammons, Karen Lynn Barbour, Jamie Louise Barnes, Jennifer Mae Barnes, Ronnie Hearley Barnes, Rhonda Kathleen Byrd, Tony Curtis Byrd, Phillip Devon Charles, Versia Mae Carter, Sharon Kay Clayton, William Jean-Mari Coats, Teresa Ann Cooke, Timothy Martin Denning, Dudley Thomas Denning, Douglas Earl Dennis, Andy Thomas Faircloth, Diane Leigh Flowers, Kenneth Edward Godwin, Andy Lewis Hawley, Nell Davis Hawley, Roy Keith Jones, Jacob Benton Joyner, Jr., Millard Ward Lamm, Jr., Edna Susan Matthews, Cathy Dean McLamb, Danny Keith McLamb, Sherry Annette McLeod, Costella McNeill, Linda Lou McNeill, Cynthia Ann Norris, Connie Diane Norris, Julia Elizabeth Norris, Peggy Denton Parker, Mark Anthony Parrish, Jenia Louellen Rowland, Marion Antoinette Salamoni, Gregory Shannon, Kathy Elaine Sills, Debbie Jean Sorrell, William Ralvin Spears, Daphne Darlene Stevens, Mark Stevens, Ernest Ravon Stone, Sharon Rose Strickland, Shelia Ann Strickland, Kathy Taylor, Doris Eller Turlington, Jimmy Scott Walker, JoAnn Williams, and Patsy Dale Young ( 1976 Coats High School Echoing Memories).
Do you have faded memories of the Senior Photo-Journalism Class at Coats High School publishing a paperback book of poetry? The ten students were Janie Barnes, Julia Norris, Diane Norris, Darlene Stevens, Jenia Rowland, Mike Capps, Milliard Lamm, Toni Salamoni, Sharon Clayton, and Mamie Zabchuck. Can you guess what teacher was in charge of this group of students? That was likely an easy question since Marie Salmon was known countywide for her ability to bring out the best in her students by using creative teaching techniques (Daily Record June 8, 1976).
Was Mamie Zabchuck a new student at Coats or was it one of Marie’s jokes? I taught these students and did not have her in my English classes. I do know that Miss Cheri Byrd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Byrd, was crowned Miss Coats Jr. Order. The first runner-up was Julia Norris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Norris. Second runner-up was Miss Renee Neighbors, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Neighbors (Daily Record June 11, 1976).
A wedding was on the calendar for Carole and Elder A.D. McGee’s daughter-Angela Carole McGee. Angela was to marry Randy Edward Holmes, son of Mrs. Evelyn Holmes of Coats (Daily Record June 12, 1976).
Victor Penny, 85, of Willow Springs, had died. His services were held at Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church. Three sons –Graham, Lemay and Edsel Penny and one daughter-Mrs. M.T. Sullivan survived him. Mr. Penny was the son of the late H.H. and Unity Coats Penny. His only surviving sibling was Mrs. Mary Coats of Coats (Daily Record June 15, 1976).
The former Lazona Gale Walden and wife of John Wesley Spears, Jr. announced the birth of a son, Jonathan Wesley Spears. The baby was born at Betsy Johnson Hospital on June 14 (Daily Record June 16, 1976). Gale was the first African-American town commissioner in Coats.
Dr. Anne Moore was a candidate for the N.C. Senate from the Harnett County District. The candidate said “It’s been delightful. The nicest thing is meeting the people.” (Daily Record June 17, 1976)
Mrs. Mack Reid Hudson, Cultural Arts Chairman of the National Extension Homemakers Council, presented Governor James Holshouser, Jr. a copy of the Treasure Trails in the USA (Daily Record June 18, 1976).
Laura Maria Costellanos won a coveted award at her graduation from St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, VA. The Bishop Brown Ellett award was given for the best work in the area of writing. Laura planned to return to NC and attend Salem College in Winston-Salem. While Laura was graduating from St. Catherine’s School, a Coats student made the news. Tony Curtis Byrd was engaged to Pamela Faye Parker of Benson. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parker of Benson (Daily Record June 23, 1976). Who remembers having Laura or Tony in your classes? You do know that Laura was sister to Alex Castellanos and daughter of Dr. Jose Castellonos who practiced medicine in Coats for many years.
The Coats United Methodist Church had a new minister, Rev. William (Bill) Howard Altman, Jr. The twenty-four –year old Altman had been ordained only seventeen days. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Altman of Dunn. Elsewhere in the Coats area, Jennifer Elaine Dixon’s engagement to Danny Lane Hedgepeth was announced by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Dixon, Jr., of Coats also. Danny was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Hedgepeth (Daily Record June 24, 1976).
Do you recall that many people in Coats were asking for a vote on sale of beer and wine in town? The June 28, 1976 edition of the Daily Record wrote that the voting date was set for August 17 to approve the sale of beer and wine to be consumed.
We read so many obituaries today of young people dying and we often question “Why?” The death of a twenty year-old man from Durham touched the hearts of many in Coats. Robert Edward Johnson had died on a Monday near Beaufort, NC. He was an engineering student at NC State University and was the recipient of the Boy of The Year award from Durham YMCA in 1972. He was the son of the late Edison Johnson who had been an outstanding Coats High School graduate. He was grandson of Mrs. Mamie Weeks Johnson of Coats (Daily Record July 7, 1976). Again-we ask “Why?”
I do know that Kenneth Wayne Wood, 19 year –old Coats youth, was killed in a one car accident on the Johnston-Harnett County line (Daily Record July 12, 1976).
Sheree Wise, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Wise, was engaged to marry Donnie Paul Parker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Preston Parker of Coats (Daily Record July 15, 1976). Many of you know the name Sheree Parker from her working at WCKB and others know Paul from his years of being an electrician with the Harnett Board of Education. The Coats Museum volunteers know him from his serving on our board of directors and his always dropping by to make our day happy.
Death visited three families in July affecting Coats folks. Mrs. Ava Peacock, 65, of Route One Coats, had died on Saturday. Services were at Bethel Primitive Baptist Church and burial was in the church cemetery. Her husband, David Peacock, and son, Kenneth, and daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, survived her. Mrs. Alda Grimes was her sister (Daily Record July 19, 1976).
The second death was in the family of Edward Harmon, 45, of Fayetteville. He was a retired gunner in the US Marines. He was a former resident of Coats (Daily Record July 22, 1976). Was he a relative of the current Coats Harmon family?
The next Coats family to be stung by death was that of Jimmy F. Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson was fifty years old and had died on a Saturday. His funeral was held at the Gift Primitive Baptist Church and burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Vera Norris Ferguson. His seven daughters were Mrs. Pete Norris, Mrs. Jesse Jackson, Mrs. Bobby Matthews, Miss Annette Ferguson, Miss Juanita Ferguson, and Miss Becky Ferguson. His four sons were Glenn, Danny and Larry Ferguson. (Who was the fourth son?) (Daily Record July 28, 1976)
A pig picking was held in the American Legion Building in Dunn for Representative Jimmy Love. Harnett Democratic Chairman Ronald Coats and H.A. Turlington attended the event. The NC DOT announced the improvements were to be made on the railroad crossing just east on NC 55 by Durham and Southern RR Co.(Daily Record July 27, 1976).
Youth Revival services were conducted by David Langdon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Langdon. The graduate of Coats High School and the Johnston Technical Institute attended the United Methodist Church in Coats (Daily record July 29, 1976).
Some more good news was that Mr. and Mrs. Stacy Williams and one year-old Thomas Allen Williams and Mr. and Mrs. Carlie Wade Sears and four month-old son Jason Kent Sears were among the “Eckerd Babies of the Month” (Daily Record July 30, 1976).
On the world front in July 1976, the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam was proclaimed and Saigon was officially named Ho Chi Minh City. Israel launched its daring mission to rescue about 100 passengers and Air France crew members held at Entebbe Airport in Uganda by pro-Palestinian hijackers. Lastly, an earthquake in China’s Tangsham province killed an estimated 695,000 people.
It is really a small world. While visiting Virginia Beach to see our young grandson perform in the Virginia Chorus at the Virginia Beach Performing Arts Center there, we were approached by one of the volunteers at the center. She thought she was seeing things as did we. The volunteer was Judy Byrd Brady who was the daughter of the late Rev. Ralph and Mrs. Byrd and sister to Billie Jean, Patsy, Sherry, Larry and Ronnie. After attending Campbell and ECU, Judy would later teach and retire at Cox High School in Virginia Beach. Judy was cheerleader when at Coats High School and continues to have her bubbly personality and to use it to give back to the community by volunteering at the center.
A special thank you goes to another tireless volunteer and board member at the Coats Museum. Linda Cobb, a lifelong friend, has given a memorial to honor the memory of Sue Johnson Richey, a 1955 Coats High graduate. Because of the generosity of people such as Linda and Ralph Denning who also gave a memorial for Sue Richey, the museum is able to operate without having to have fundraisers. Thank you, Ralph, Linda and others who give so freely.
Whether looking at items in the exhibit cabinets in the Kress and Nell Penny Williams Exhibit Hall or meandering through the Cotton Museum, names that can be seen on many items are Fletcher and Verle Flowers. The late couple, and now their children, have given financially and donated countless items from day one of the original museum. Conrey and Sarah Flowers, thank you for your donation and continued support to the museum last week.