April 2, 2021 Coats Museum News
The January 30, 1987 edition of the Daily Record shared that the Coats Area Chamber of Commerce had held its annual banquet to honor Charles Ennis as Farmer of the Year; Tommy Williford as Man of the Year; Ann Jones as Woman of the Year; Keith McLeod and Donahue Stephenson as Firemen of the Year; Wade Norris, Barbara Byrd, Delia Pleasant and Ricky Ennis as Rescue Squad Members of the Year; Amy Brown as Club Woman of the Year and Lee and Lisa Shearin as the Family of the Year. Rep. Bob Etheridge and Tom Suiter, WRAL sports announcer, were on hand.
Wade Stephenson was the 1986-87 CACC president and his board members were Judy M. Turlington, C.J. Johnson, Terry Miller, Margaret House, Mayor Tim McKInnie, J.D. Norris, Frances Avery, Dr. Harold Dixon and Randy Rambeau.
Death visited the Byrd house and took Mrs. Retha Allen Byrd, 71, of Coats. She was survived by her husband, William Mack Byrd; her daughter Faye and son Bernie Mack Byrd. Her siblings were Beth Tart and Robert Lee Allen (Daily Record Feb. 4, 1987).
The February 5, 1987 “Notes from Coats “reported that Mrs. Sue Parrish was promoted to Customer Service Representative at BB&T in Coats. Sue’s husband was Ronnie Parrish who was elected as Master of Angier Masonic Lodge. The notes also shared that Mrs. Lina Turlington was recuperating from an illness. Coats residents were missing a good chat with friend, Y.T. Jernigan, after he closed his store and gas station. Wanda Pollard shared the good news that Jayson Ennis had made the Dean’s List as CCTC (Daily Record Feb. 5, 1987).
William Michael Pope of Route One, Coats, was attending Cape Fear Christian Academy. He was one of 150 high school juniors to participate in a Rotary Youth Leadership Award Conference (Daily Record Feb. 9, 1987). Did you recognize that name? William and his wife Shelia are the Pope and Pope Attorneys in Angier. They are the best neighbors possible.
In other news from “Notes from Coats”, congratulations were extended to Mr. and Mrs. Lester Williams on the birth of a new great- granddaughter. Tyrus Powell was also celebrating the birth of his grandson Richard Newton Pope. Ricky and Cathy Powell Pope named their son after Cathy’s grandfather, the late Newton Byrd. Sue Langdon Johnson and her husband, Ken Johnson, had moved back to the Coats area. The couple built a new home near Sue’s mother, Mrs. Mable Langdon.
Many of our readers likely have wonderful memories of Sue and Ken. Sue was an outstanding athlete and student at the old Coats High School. Ken gave the sheetrock for the original Coats Museum. When I was asked to join the team of volunteers at the museum after I stopped teaching, I can remember being shot down for some of my wild ideas as to what I wanted the museum to be. One idea that the museum committee did buy into was for us to have families share their family genealogies to begin our collections in the museum. However, I would have to take on the job of getting the families to respond. You know the telephone was a good way to reach out directly and that I did. Guess who was the very first person to drop off her Langdon and Johnson family genealogies at my house? Sue had the family documents on my patio almost before I could put the phone down.
Who remembers where the old Stewart Hotel was located in Coats? Does anyone remember hearing who built the two story building? The story is that Bennie Byrd built the hotel in 1908 and Mollie Stewart bought it in 1912 and operated it as a hotel until about 1938. Does Bennie have any living relatives in the Coats area? Hazel Byrd Johnson and Mrs. Brookie Byrd Pope had visited Mary Penny Coats to surprise her with a covered dish visit. Mrs. Zelda Byrd Pope, mother of Diane and Glenda Denning, was also a daughter of Bennie Byrd. My question is “Why did Zelda, Brookie and Hazel call Mary Coats their aunt?”
I do know that Magdalene Pleasant had completed her GED at age 55. She also had completed her Nurse’s Aide Course and then broke her arm while helping her neighbor. While she was confined at home, her son Danny Day, visited Magdalene and her husband, Sherrill Pleasant. Magdalene’s son, Rattler Stewart and Sherrill’s son Jeremy Pleasant and his daughter Connie Pleasant all celebrated birthdays.
Wanda Pollard continued in her “Coats Social Notes” that Mrs. Clara O’Neal Breeden and her husband Will Breeden had moved back to Coats to live. Clara was the daughter of Rosa O’Neal. Guess who was the new operator of the Y.T. Jernigan‘s store? Ray Wood was the man to open and close the doors each day (Daily Record Feb. 12, 1987).
Death took a young woman on Route One, Coats. Mrs. Laverne Bryant Johnson, 38, was survived by her husband, Clifton Johnson, and her son, Michael Shane Johnson. Her siblings were Daniel Gary Bryant, Mrs. Shirley Weaver, Joan Bryant Norris, and Mrs. JoAnn Bryant Gregory (Daily Record Feb. 16, 1987).
Ned Baxter Ennis, 34, a Coats native, was promoted to the rank of Major in the US Army. Major Ennis graduated from the Coats High School in 1971 and was the son of Mrs. Preston Ennis (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1987). Just to catch you up on Baxter, he later was promoted to Lt. Colonel before retiring from the military. He loves history and even wrote a book entitled “When Leadership Mattered.” Baxter shared how twelve people’s actions changed the world. Coats has every right to be proud of Baxter’s accomplishments and it was obvious that his former classmates still love him. Practically all of them went to Campbell University for his book signing a couple of years ago.
Employees of Betsy Johnson Hospital were recognized for non-use o f sick time. Winners from the drawing for a $100.00 savings bond drawing among the employees were Barbara Sollinger, 1985 recipient and Marian Williams, winner for 1985 (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1987).
Here’s another reason for Coats folks to be proud of a former graduate. The Feb.23, 1987 edition of the Daily Record reported that a 1967 Coats High School graduate, Charles J. (Jeff) Stewart, was installed as president of the United Way of Durham, NC. Did Jeff spend his career in banking in Durham?
An amazing group from the CHS Class of 1956, along with several of their spouses, met at the Coats Museum to decide what plaque they wanted to give to honor the CHS Class of 1956. Over the years, the class had faithfully memorialized all their deceased classmates with donations to the museum. The plaque will relieve dedicated Virginia Norris Holden of having to collect money to honor deceased classmates. Lynda Butler and I were humbled to meet this group and to share the story behind many of the exhibits which could never have happened without the generosity of folks such as the CHS Class of 1956. Thank you –CHS Class of 1956.
The January 30, 1987 edition of the Daily Record shared that the Coats Area Chamber of Commerce had held its annual banquet to honor Charles Ennis as Farmer of the Year; Tommy Williford as Man of the Year; Ann Jones as Woman of the Year; Keith McLeod and Donahue Stephenson as Firemen of the Year; Wade Norris, Barbara Byrd, Delia Pleasant and Ricky Ennis as Rescue Squad Members of the Year; Amy Brown as Club Woman of the Year and Lee and Lisa Shearin as the Family of the Year. Rep. Bob Etheridge and Tom Suiter, WRAL sports announcer, were on hand.
Wade Stephenson was the 1986-87 CACC president and his board members were Judy M. Turlington, C.J. Johnson, Terry Miller, Margaret House, Mayor Tim McKInnie, J.D. Norris, Frances Avery, Dr. Harold Dixon and Randy Rambeau.
Death visited the Byrd house and took Mrs. Retha Allen Byrd, 71, of Coats. She was survived by her husband, William Mack Byrd; her daughter Faye and son Bernie Mack Byrd. Her siblings were Beth Tart and Robert Lee Allen (Daily Record Feb. 4, 1987).
The February 5, 1987 “Notes from Coats “reported that Mrs. Sue Parrish was promoted to Customer Service Representative at BB&T in Coats. Sue’s husband was Ronnie Parrish who was elected as Master of Angier Masonic Lodge. The notes also shared that Mrs. Lina Turlington was recuperating from an illness. Coats residents were missing a good chat with friend, Y.T. Jernigan, after he closed his store and gas station. Wanda Pollard shared the good news that Jayson Ennis had made the Dean’s List as CCTC (Daily Record Feb. 5, 1987).
William Michael Pope of Route One, Coats, was attending Cape Fear Christian Academy. He was one of 150 high school juniors to participate in a Rotary Youth Leadership Award Conference (Daily Record Feb. 9, 1987). Did you recognize that name? William and his wife Shelia are the Pope and Pope Attorneys in Angier. They are the best neighbors possible.
In other news from “Notes from Coats”, congratulations were extended to Mr. and Mrs. Lester Williams on the birth of a new great- granddaughter. Tyrus Powell was also celebrating the birth of his grandson Richard Newton Pope. Ricky and Cathy Powell Pope named their son after Cathy’s grandfather, the late Newton Byrd. Sue Langdon Johnson and her husband, Ken Johnson, had moved back to the Coats area. The couple built a new home near Sue’s mother, Mrs. Mable Langdon.
Many of our readers likely have wonderful memories of Sue and Ken. Sue was an outstanding athlete and student at the old Coats High School. Ken gave the sheetrock for the original Coats Museum. When I was asked to join the team of volunteers at the museum after I stopped teaching, I can remember being shot down for some of my wild ideas as to what I wanted the museum to be. One idea that the museum committee did buy into was for us to have families share their family genealogies to begin our collections in the museum. However, I would have to take on the job of getting the families to respond. You know the telephone was a good way to reach out directly and that I did. Guess who was the very first person to drop off her Langdon and Johnson family genealogies at my house? Sue had the family documents on my patio almost before I could put the phone down.
Who remembers where the old Stewart Hotel was located in Coats? Does anyone remember hearing who built the two story building? The story is that Bennie Byrd built the hotel in 1908 and Mollie Stewart bought it in 1912 and operated it as a hotel until about 1938. Does Bennie have any living relatives in the Coats area? Hazel Byrd Johnson and Mrs. Brookie Byrd Pope had visited Mary Penny Coats to surprise her with a covered dish visit. Mrs. Zelda Byrd Pope, mother of Diane and Glenda Denning, was also a daughter of Bennie Byrd. My question is “Why did Zelda, Brookie and Hazel call Mary Coats their aunt?”
I do know that Magdalene Pleasant had completed her GED at age 55. She also had completed her Nurse’s Aide Course and then broke her arm while helping her neighbor. While she was confined at home, her son Danny Day, visited Magdalene and her husband, Sherrill Pleasant. Magdalene’s son, Rattler Stewart and Sherrill’s son Jeremy Pleasant and his daughter Connie Pleasant all celebrated birthdays.
Wanda Pollard continued in her “Coats Social Notes” that Mrs. Clara O’Neal Breeden and her husband Will Breeden had moved back to Coats to live. Clara was the daughter of Rosa O’Neal. Guess who was the new operator of the Y.T. Jernigan‘s store? Ray Wood was the man to open and close the doors each day (Daily Record Feb. 12, 1987).
Death took a young woman on Route One, Coats. Mrs. Laverne Bryant Johnson, 38, was survived by her husband, Clifton Johnson, and her son, Michael Shane Johnson. Her siblings were Daniel Gary Bryant, Mrs. Shirley Weaver, Joan Bryant Norris, and Mrs. JoAnn Bryant Gregory (Daily Record Feb. 16, 1987).
Ned Baxter Ennis, 34, a Coats native, was promoted to the rank of Major in the US Army. Major Ennis graduated from the Coats High School in 1971 and was the son of Mrs. Preston Ennis (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1987). Just to catch you up on Baxter, he later was promoted to Lt. Colonel before retiring from the military. He loves history and even wrote a book entitled “When Leadership Mattered.” Baxter shared how twelve people’s actions changed the world. Coats has every right to be proud of Baxter’s accomplishments and it was obvious that his former classmates still love him. Practically all of them went to Campbell University for his book signing a couple of years ago.
Employees of Betsy Johnson Hospital were recognized for non-use o f sick time. Winners from the drawing for a $100.00 savings bond drawing among the employees were Barbara Sollinger, 1985 recipient and Marian Williams, winner for 1985 (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1987).
Here’s another reason for Coats folks to be proud of a former graduate. The Feb.23, 1987 edition of the Daily Record reported that a 1967 Coats High School graduate, Charles J. (Jeff) Stewart, was installed as president of the United Way of Durham, NC. Did Jeff spend his career in banking in Durham?
An amazing group from the CHS Class of 1956, along with several of their spouses, met at the Coats Museum to decide what plaque they wanted to give to honor the CHS Class of 1956. Over the years, the class had faithfully memorialized all their deceased classmates with donations to the museum. The plaque will relieve dedicated Virginia Norris Holden of having to collect money to honor deceased classmates. Lynda Butler and I were humbled to meet this group and to share the story behind many of the exhibits which could never have happened without the generosity of folks such as the CHS Class of 1956. Thank you –CHS Class of 1956.