April 8, 2016 Coats Museum News
Has the Coats Baptist Church been around before 1910 and has it had three different buildings for worship within the town limits? Was the first building located across from the now Gray Flex industry? Did they move into the new brick building on McKinley Street in 1952? When did they move to the current site?
This I do know. The Gleaners Class was formed from the Ruth Eller Class at Coats Baptist in October of 1957. Several in the class were Mrs. Inez Poole, Mrs. Carsie Denning, Mrs. Allene Honeycutt, Mrs. Estelle Williams, Mrs. Curtis Guy, Mrs. Catherine Phillips, Mrs. Howard Penny, and Mrs. W.E. Nichols (Daily Record Oct. 7, 1957). How many of those ladies are living today?
Have you thought about the fact that October is usually plagued with hurricanes and tropical storms and not once has one been mentioned in the news? No news of them was good for the Thornton family who had lost a loved one to death. John Frank Thornton, 66, had died in James Memorial Hospital in Wilmington. He was the son of Susan Anna Giles Thornton and the late Pharaoh Thornton. Mrs. Osburn Ennis of Coats was sister.
Elsewhere in the area, Mrs. Eugene Betts of Coats announced the engagement of her daughter Linda Honeycutt to Earl Thomas Stanley (son of Earl Stanley) who was in the U.S. Army. Mrs. E. H. Honeycutt was father of the bride-elect (Daily Record Oct. 10, 1957).
A horrific accident occurred between Benson and Coats when Charles Grimes was killed instantly when he hit a car head on after pulling out of the Hugh Johnson Store (Daily Record Oct.10, 1957). William Charles Grimes was buried in the Hodges Chapel Church Cemetery after the funeral was conducted at the church there. Reverends J.D. Capps and Ralph Byrd officiated. His wife, Sudie Barnhill Grimes; two sons, Charles and Terry, and one daughter, Mrs. Jack Teague, survived him. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Grimes (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1957). Question-was this church the wooden one or the current large brick one?
M.O. Phillips, a 21-year veteran teacher of agriculture was awarded an honorary American Farmer Degree. His former student, Dorsey Daniel who was a 1955 Coats graduate, was also awarded the American Farmer Degree. Dorsey’s mother was quoted as saying, “We tried to get him to do something else, but he wouldn’t hear of it. We thought farming was too hard, but that’s all he’s interested in.” “So,” said Mrs. Thessie Daniel, “he majored in hogs-I guess he’s a farmer to stay.”
Another Coats student won a high honor at the State FHA District IV Rally in Roxboro. Sybil Beasley was elected the FHA State Treasurer. To help pull off the victory were her campaign managers, Jo Carol Penny, Vickie Lou Lee, and Barbara Stewart. Elsewhere in town, the Woman’s Club met with Mrs. Charlie Williams and they likely learned that Mrs. J.B. Williams was a patient at the hospital. Mrs. George Hill was honored with a cradle shower at the Coats Baptist Church (Daily Record Oct. 17, 1957).
Another birth in Coats was announced by Mr. and Mrs. Billy Whittington. The new arrival was Kim and the mother was Margie Capps. Yet another new citizen of Coats would be welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Winifred Laverne Messer. The mother of the baby boy was Dorothy Mae Lucas (Daily Record Oct. 18, 1957).
The Oakdale HD Club met with Mrs. Edward Ennis and a sewing machine demonstration was the program by Miss Hinson, Harnett County Home Agent. Back in town, Mrs. Lessie Fox and Clem Godwin were married in a quiet ceremony on Sunday afternoon. The bride wore a brown suit with a mink collar. Mrs. Godwin was a nurse for Dr. Donald Moore and Mr. Godwin was the owner of the City Market in Coats (Daily Record Oct. 21, 1957). Does anyone remember these two newlyweds? I don’t recall writing about the deaths of their former spouses so does anyone know about them?
Coats farmer Clarence Thomas Clayton, 44, had died at his home. He was survived by wife Ollie Clayton and six children-Daywood, Mrs. Vernon Moore, C.T., Jr., Joy Dan, and Deborah Clayton (Daily Record October 22, 1957).
Mr. and Mrs. James Robert Hedgepeth announced the birth of a son, James Randy Hedgepeth and Mr. and Mrs. Talmadge Stone welcomed a classmate for Randy at Coats School. Ernest Ravon was the new arrival (Daily Record Oct. 24, 1957).
The death angel had returned to take Mrs. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Weaver Johnson, 68, of Route 2, Angier who had died at her home early Friday after several days of illness. She was the daughter of the late J.C. and Sarah Weaver. Surviving her was her husband, W. Carson Johnson and five brothers -John W., Henry, Lynn, J.L., and Harvey Weaver. Funeral services were held at Oak Grove and burial was in the church cemetery (Daily Record Oct. 28, 1957).
On November 3rd, the Fall Rally for the Presbyterian Youth Groups of District I and VIII was held at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church where Norma Lee Johnson was chairman of District I (daily Record Oct. 29, 1957).
A seven-county group toured Harnett County in an effort to impress leaders of the Capital Area Development Association that Harnett County was busy on many fronts improving its economic and community life. Outside that realm of thought was the news that Misses Carol and Wanda Stone were honored on their birthdays with a party at the Coats Community. Those attending were Peggy Stone, Judy Stone, Wayne Stanley, Velton Stone, Laura and Pat Johnson, Betty Jo Poole, Dottie Bowden, Donnie Allan Stone, Billy, Peggy and Helen Honeycutt, Dianne Holmes, Marilyn and Ray Stone, Charlie and Leonard Blunt and Charlie Dorman. When was the last time you heard some of those names?
Joseph L. Hollingsworth, 63, of Erwin had died. The Sampson County native was the son of the late Edward and Margaret Hall Hollingsworth. He had worked at the Erwin Mills for 38 years. Paul Hollingsworth of Coats was his son (Daily Record Oct. 31, 1957).
Russia announced that they would send apes into space as a result of the successful launching of Sputnik II. Did they? Could they have imagined only a few years later that there would be an American astronaut walking on the moon and satellites scanning almost every inch of the planet Earth and much beyond?
Sgt. Thomas Barnes of rural Angier had completed a five-week radar course by the 3rd Air Defense Group at Hampton, Virginia. The 22-year-old soldier attended Coats High School (Daily Record Nov. 4, 1957). Wonder if Thomas Barnes was kin to the Barnes boys of rural Angier who built an airplane and were friends of the first licensed aviator Alton Stewart from Coats.
Was Russia “feeling its oats” since the country was ahead of America in space exploration in 1957? I do know that Soviet leader Nikita S. Khrushchev said that the new Soviet technical advances meant the “Capitalist order would perish” if a new war broke out (Daily Record Nov. 6, 1957). Was this statement made before many in America began to build bomb shelters?
How exciting the week has been at the museum. The volunteers have been changing exhibits all week and the place is beautiful filled with vintage wedding attire, memorabilia and vintage clothes. We have the dresses of two farm girls who left Coats after high school to attend college and eventually settled in Washington, D.C. One would work for the CIA and later follow her husband to many cities where he worked in radio broadcasting. The other girl would be an administrative assistant to the infamous Senator Joseph McCarthy and would later marry an American diplomat and follow him around the world to numerous consulates. Who would have thought we could get these two beautiful dresses for display?
Thanks to our Coats Museum column, we had two people to respond to our need for a small child’s pedal car- one red and one pink. Thank you goes to Betty Ruth Johnson from Coats and Faye Fish from Linden for offering your car. Visit our museum to see which car is on display with a “JUST MARRIED” sign. We now need any small picture of a bridal couple in your family for us to display. We also would love to have a small picture of any couple who celebrated their golden anniversary.
We really enjoyed a visit from Pam Elliott Carver who was daughter of Taylor Elliott who saved the life of a fellow parachutist when he grabbed him after his parachute failed to open. Thanks Pam for purchasing the Harnett County Heritage book, the Coats, N.C. Heritage book, Together We Leave and several Coats Centennial souvenirs.
We also appreciate Lenee Smith who gave a generous honorarium to the museum to honor her dad on his birthday. Thanks, Lenee.
Has the Coats Baptist Church been around before 1910 and has it had three different buildings for worship within the town limits? Was the first building located across from the now Gray Flex industry? Did they move into the new brick building on McKinley Street in 1952? When did they move to the current site?
This I do know. The Gleaners Class was formed from the Ruth Eller Class at Coats Baptist in October of 1957. Several in the class were Mrs. Inez Poole, Mrs. Carsie Denning, Mrs. Allene Honeycutt, Mrs. Estelle Williams, Mrs. Curtis Guy, Mrs. Catherine Phillips, Mrs. Howard Penny, and Mrs. W.E. Nichols (Daily Record Oct. 7, 1957). How many of those ladies are living today?
Have you thought about the fact that October is usually plagued with hurricanes and tropical storms and not once has one been mentioned in the news? No news of them was good for the Thornton family who had lost a loved one to death. John Frank Thornton, 66, had died in James Memorial Hospital in Wilmington. He was the son of Susan Anna Giles Thornton and the late Pharaoh Thornton. Mrs. Osburn Ennis of Coats was sister.
Elsewhere in the area, Mrs. Eugene Betts of Coats announced the engagement of her daughter Linda Honeycutt to Earl Thomas Stanley (son of Earl Stanley) who was in the U.S. Army. Mrs. E. H. Honeycutt was father of the bride-elect (Daily Record Oct. 10, 1957).
A horrific accident occurred between Benson and Coats when Charles Grimes was killed instantly when he hit a car head on after pulling out of the Hugh Johnson Store (Daily Record Oct.10, 1957). William Charles Grimes was buried in the Hodges Chapel Church Cemetery after the funeral was conducted at the church there. Reverends J.D. Capps and Ralph Byrd officiated. His wife, Sudie Barnhill Grimes; two sons, Charles and Terry, and one daughter, Mrs. Jack Teague, survived him. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Grimes (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1957). Question-was this church the wooden one or the current large brick one?
M.O. Phillips, a 21-year veteran teacher of agriculture was awarded an honorary American Farmer Degree. His former student, Dorsey Daniel who was a 1955 Coats graduate, was also awarded the American Farmer Degree. Dorsey’s mother was quoted as saying, “We tried to get him to do something else, but he wouldn’t hear of it. We thought farming was too hard, but that’s all he’s interested in.” “So,” said Mrs. Thessie Daniel, “he majored in hogs-I guess he’s a farmer to stay.”
Another Coats student won a high honor at the State FHA District IV Rally in Roxboro. Sybil Beasley was elected the FHA State Treasurer. To help pull off the victory were her campaign managers, Jo Carol Penny, Vickie Lou Lee, and Barbara Stewart. Elsewhere in town, the Woman’s Club met with Mrs. Charlie Williams and they likely learned that Mrs. J.B. Williams was a patient at the hospital. Mrs. George Hill was honored with a cradle shower at the Coats Baptist Church (Daily Record Oct. 17, 1957).
Another birth in Coats was announced by Mr. and Mrs. Billy Whittington. The new arrival was Kim and the mother was Margie Capps. Yet another new citizen of Coats would be welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Winifred Laverne Messer. The mother of the baby boy was Dorothy Mae Lucas (Daily Record Oct. 18, 1957).
The Oakdale HD Club met with Mrs. Edward Ennis and a sewing machine demonstration was the program by Miss Hinson, Harnett County Home Agent. Back in town, Mrs. Lessie Fox and Clem Godwin were married in a quiet ceremony on Sunday afternoon. The bride wore a brown suit with a mink collar. Mrs. Godwin was a nurse for Dr. Donald Moore and Mr. Godwin was the owner of the City Market in Coats (Daily Record Oct. 21, 1957). Does anyone remember these two newlyweds? I don’t recall writing about the deaths of their former spouses so does anyone know about them?
Coats farmer Clarence Thomas Clayton, 44, had died at his home. He was survived by wife Ollie Clayton and six children-Daywood, Mrs. Vernon Moore, C.T., Jr., Joy Dan, and Deborah Clayton (Daily Record October 22, 1957).
Mr. and Mrs. James Robert Hedgepeth announced the birth of a son, James Randy Hedgepeth and Mr. and Mrs. Talmadge Stone welcomed a classmate for Randy at Coats School. Ernest Ravon was the new arrival (Daily Record Oct. 24, 1957).
The death angel had returned to take Mrs. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Weaver Johnson, 68, of Route 2, Angier who had died at her home early Friday after several days of illness. She was the daughter of the late J.C. and Sarah Weaver. Surviving her was her husband, W. Carson Johnson and five brothers -John W., Henry, Lynn, J.L., and Harvey Weaver. Funeral services were held at Oak Grove and burial was in the church cemetery (Daily Record Oct. 28, 1957).
On November 3rd, the Fall Rally for the Presbyterian Youth Groups of District I and VIII was held at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church where Norma Lee Johnson was chairman of District I (daily Record Oct. 29, 1957).
A seven-county group toured Harnett County in an effort to impress leaders of the Capital Area Development Association that Harnett County was busy on many fronts improving its economic and community life. Outside that realm of thought was the news that Misses Carol and Wanda Stone were honored on their birthdays with a party at the Coats Community. Those attending were Peggy Stone, Judy Stone, Wayne Stanley, Velton Stone, Laura and Pat Johnson, Betty Jo Poole, Dottie Bowden, Donnie Allan Stone, Billy, Peggy and Helen Honeycutt, Dianne Holmes, Marilyn and Ray Stone, Charlie and Leonard Blunt and Charlie Dorman. When was the last time you heard some of those names?
Joseph L. Hollingsworth, 63, of Erwin had died. The Sampson County native was the son of the late Edward and Margaret Hall Hollingsworth. He had worked at the Erwin Mills for 38 years. Paul Hollingsworth of Coats was his son (Daily Record Oct. 31, 1957).
Russia announced that they would send apes into space as a result of the successful launching of Sputnik II. Did they? Could they have imagined only a few years later that there would be an American astronaut walking on the moon and satellites scanning almost every inch of the planet Earth and much beyond?
Sgt. Thomas Barnes of rural Angier had completed a five-week radar course by the 3rd Air Defense Group at Hampton, Virginia. The 22-year-old soldier attended Coats High School (Daily Record Nov. 4, 1957). Wonder if Thomas Barnes was kin to the Barnes boys of rural Angier who built an airplane and were friends of the first licensed aviator Alton Stewart from Coats.
Was Russia “feeling its oats” since the country was ahead of America in space exploration in 1957? I do know that Soviet leader Nikita S. Khrushchev said that the new Soviet technical advances meant the “Capitalist order would perish” if a new war broke out (Daily Record Nov. 6, 1957). Was this statement made before many in America began to build bomb shelters?
How exciting the week has been at the museum. The volunteers have been changing exhibits all week and the place is beautiful filled with vintage wedding attire, memorabilia and vintage clothes. We have the dresses of two farm girls who left Coats after high school to attend college and eventually settled in Washington, D.C. One would work for the CIA and later follow her husband to many cities where he worked in radio broadcasting. The other girl would be an administrative assistant to the infamous Senator Joseph McCarthy and would later marry an American diplomat and follow him around the world to numerous consulates. Who would have thought we could get these two beautiful dresses for display?
Thanks to our Coats Museum column, we had two people to respond to our need for a small child’s pedal car- one red and one pink. Thank you goes to Betty Ruth Johnson from Coats and Faye Fish from Linden for offering your car. Visit our museum to see which car is on display with a “JUST MARRIED” sign. We now need any small picture of a bridal couple in your family for us to display. We also would love to have a small picture of any couple who celebrated their golden anniversary.
We really enjoyed a visit from Pam Elliott Carver who was daughter of Taylor Elliott who saved the life of a fellow parachutist when he grabbed him after his parachute failed to open. Thanks Pam for purchasing the Harnett County Heritage book, the Coats, N.C. Heritage book, Together We Leave and several Coats Centennial souvenirs.
We also appreciate Lenee Smith who gave a generous honorarium to the museum to honor her dad on his birthday. Thanks, Lenee.