August 12, 2016 Coats Museum News
To some readers, the name Turlington may bring back memories of people and places such as Turlington Schools, Turlington Institute, Turlington Crossroads, Turlington Post Office, Turlington Cotton Gin, H.A. Turlington Duroc Farm. In July of 1959, the only Turlington that was on the minds of some was that of Mrs. Minnie Frances Turlington who had died on Wednesday at her home. The eighty-three old woman was the oldest member of the Erwin Chapel Church. Her husband John A. Turlington survived her (Daily Record July 9, 1959). Was Mrs. Turlington’s family connected to Willis and Cader (Kader) Turlington who came here when the area was Cumberland County?
Wonder if the following farm boys were in the tobacco fields when they received word that they had won some supervised farming contests for the District III of the FFA. Carson Gregory, Jr.’s award came for demonstrating “improved farming practices” at work in raising dairy, tobacco, pigs, and corn. Five Coats FFA’ers won the Carolina Farmer Degree-Wallace Penny, Bobby Pope, Wayne Moore, Edgar Sorrell, and Vin Whittington (Daily Record July 13, 1959).
Death once again visited the area and this time it took with it Mrs. Leva Johnson Pope, 63, of Route 2, Angier. Mrs. Pope had died on Tuesday and her services were held at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church by Elders T. Lewis and J.S. Collins. She was interred in the church cemetery. Her husband, Joe Ben Pope; three sons-Dennis, Durwood, and M.D. and six daughters-Mrs. Jesse Byrd, Mrs. Hubert Byrd, Mrs. Lindsey Tart, Mrs. James R. Honeycutt, Mrs. E.P. Raynor, and Mrs. C.D. Raynor survived her. Mr. Walt Johnson and Mrs. John Capps were living siblings (Daily Record July 16, 1959). Who were her deceased siblings?
The Anderson Creek Ruritan Club honored Mr. Joseph Cleo Hawley upon his departure as principal of Anderson Creek High School to accept a similar position at the Coats High School. The club presented him a Ruritan lapel pin and a perfect attendance tab (Daily Record July 16, 1959). Anybody know how long he stayed as principal of Coats?
Curtis A. Guy, Coats banker, and Vic Lee, Coats merchant, were elected officers in the Harnett County Republican Party at the Coats Community Center. Another timely event was the Ennis Reunion which was held every year on the third Sunday in July. This spelled excitement for the 250—300 people who gathered at the Primitive Zion Church (Daily Record July 22, 1959).
Who remembers Bennie Ray Barbour? The July 27, 1959 edition of the Daily Record shared that Bennie had joined the Marine Corps. Bennie was the son of Mrs. Gertie Barbour and the late Lunday Barbour of Coats.
Two more deaths were posted in the paper. Andrew V. Parrish, 67, of Coats, had died on Thursday. His services were held at the Bethel PB Church. Elder Frank Nordan officiated. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Ada E. Parrish; two daughters, Mrs. Jim Clayton and Miss Adna Parrish; five sons-Vernon, Leron, Eston, Berlon, and Clelton Parrish. He had one sister, Mrs. L.N. Hayes (Daily Record July 31, 1959).
The second death was that of James Bennett Lockamy, 75, of rural Coats. He was the son of the late William and Annie Spivey Lockamy. His services were held at Prospect Freewill Baptist Church. He had four sons- Odis, Warren, Ira, and Madison Lockamy (Daily Record -Between July31 and Aug. 12- 1959).
Do you think that the farmers were reworking their farm schedules to attend all these funerals? I do know that tobacco sales were averaging $.62 per pound (Daily Record August 12, 1959). What does a pound average in 2016?
You have read the name Rev. Ralph Byrd in many of the obituaries. This time it appears for a different and happier occasion. Rev. Byrd was honored with a “This is Your Life” program. He had pastored the Woods Grove Church for nine years. His father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Byrd; his immediate family of Coats; his four brothers-R.K., C.R., Jr., Stanton, Watson, and sisters-Mrs. Gene Wood, Miss Linda Byrd, and Miss Marie Byrd were present and took part on the program (Daily Record August 14, 1959). Who was his immediate family? Was it Billie Jean, Patsy, Judy, Larry, Ronnie and Sherry Byrd?
Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Ennis were parents of a daughter on August 27th. The mother was the former Evelyn Ennis (Daily Record Aug. 28, 1959).
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Garland Huff were married on Friday night, August 28, at 8:00 at the home of the bride, Elder B.L. Godwin of Coats. The groom was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Garland Huff of Raleigh. Ann and Jerry were graduates of Coats High School (Daily Record Sept. 4, 1959).
The Coats Goodwill Club met at Tyler Park for their annual club picnic. Special guests were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hawley who was introduced by Rep. Carson Gregory. Mrs. Rupert Parrish presided over the seventy people who attended (Daily Record Sept. 10, 1959).
Sue Altman and Robert Matthews were married on Sunday. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wiburn Altman of Coats (Daily Record Sept. 14, 1959).
The Women of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church had their monthly meeting with hostesses Mrs. Frank Elliott and Mrs. Wade Coats. Mrs. Charles Denning presided. Mrs. Rob Adams had the program, God’s “Dare You” (Daily Record Oct. 9, 1959).
Mrs. Sudie Wise Fowler, 65, of Erwin and sister to Mrs. Mary Pleasant of Coats, had expired at her home in Erwin on Saturday night. Mrs. China Norris Ryals, 87, died Saturday afternoon at her home in Erwin. Her sister, Mrs. Polly Ann Nordan of Coats was one of her two surviving sisters.
Wonder if those attending the services cared anything about what was going in Coats School. If so, they likely were disappointed to hear that the Coats team was defeated by the Benson team 27-6 in football. Earl Denning got Coats into the scoring with a 42-yard run in the fourth quarter (Daily Record Oct. 12, 1959).
The Coats Baptist Church had held a dedication service of the new house for their pastor, J. Ben Elder, on Sunday afternoon-October 14th. Rev. Weldon Johnson assisted in the service before the house tour was given. Does anyone know where that house is today?
This I do know. Some of those same parents likely had attended the Coats PTA meeting where Mrs. Carlie McLamb presided in the absence of the president. The first grade students sang songs and said prayers that they had learned the first five weeks of school. Four of Mr. Steve Stephenson’s students performed and they were Lois Ann Johnson, June Powell, Sue Stephenson and Sue Turlington. Who remembers who the first grade teachers were in 1959? Were they Mrs. Percy Parrish, Mrs. Carroll, and Miss Buckner (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1959).
Laura Ann and Linda Sue Turlington had won a top award with their Champion Duroc Sow in the junior swine show at the NC State Fair (Daily Record Oct. 16, 1959).
The people in the community have been remarkable in sharing items to be displayed at various times in the museum. Norman D. Coe visited last week bringing a military book and a framed aerial view photo of our area taken of Hurricane Fran in September of 1996. Hilda Pope brought in Larry Smith’s military jacket from 1943. Pat Godwin dropped by the museum and donated two vintage stone bowls belonging to her husband Larry’s mother-Mrs. Lettie Godwin. What are bowls made of in your cabinets? Thank you goes to all of these wonderful supporters.
We received a memorial donation given to the Coats Museum Endowment for Mrs. Alice Thornton Johnson to honor her birthday. The Coats Museum Endowment was established in 2006 by the museum, Coats Lions Club and the Coats Kiwanis Club. The donations given to the Coats Museum Endowment are sent to the NC Community Foundation where they are invested. A portion of the return on the investments can be used by the museum for upkeep. The donations hopefully will grow the fund so it will be large enough in the future to mainly support the operation of the museum.
The Coats Museum Endowment is one of the thirty-one funds in the Harnett County Community Fund under the NC Community Foundation. We were delighted to have Dawn Neighbors and Noel McLaughlin from the NC Community Foundation in Raleigh to come by and spend a couple of hours to tour our museums last week.
To some readers, the name Turlington may bring back memories of people and places such as Turlington Schools, Turlington Institute, Turlington Crossroads, Turlington Post Office, Turlington Cotton Gin, H.A. Turlington Duroc Farm. In July of 1959, the only Turlington that was on the minds of some was that of Mrs. Minnie Frances Turlington who had died on Wednesday at her home. The eighty-three old woman was the oldest member of the Erwin Chapel Church. Her husband John A. Turlington survived her (Daily Record July 9, 1959). Was Mrs. Turlington’s family connected to Willis and Cader (Kader) Turlington who came here when the area was Cumberland County?
Wonder if the following farm boys were in the tobacco fields when they received word that they had won some supervised farming contests for the District III of the FFA. Carson Gregory, Jr.’s award came for demonstrating “improved farming practices” at work in raising dairy, tobacco, pigs, and corn. Five Coats FFA’ers won the Carolina Farmer Degree-Wallace Penny, Bobby Pope, Wayne Moore, Edgar Sorrell, and Vin Whittington (Daily Record July 13, 1959).
Death once again visited the area and this time it took with it Mrs. Leva Johnson Pope, 63, of Route 2, Angier. Mrs. Pope had died on Tuesday and her services were held at Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church by Elders T. Lewis and J.S. Collins. She was interred in the church cemetery. Her husband, Joe Ben Pope; three sons-Dennis, Durwood, and M.D. and six daughters-Mrs. Jesse Byrd, Mrs. Hubert Byrd, Mrs. Lindsey Tart, Mrs. James R. Honeycutt, Mrs. E.P. Raynor, and Mrs. C.D. Raynor survived her. Mr. Walt Johnson and Mrs. John Capps were living siblings (Daily Record July 16, 1959). Who were her deceased siblings?
The Anderson Creek Ruritan Club honored Mr. Joseph Cleo Hawley upon his departure as principal of Anderson Creek High School to accept a similar position at the Coats High School. The club presented him a Ruritan lapel pin and a perfect attendance tab (Daily Record July 16, 1959). Anybody know how long he stayed as principal of Coats?
Curtis A. Guy, Coats banker, and Vic Lee, Coats merchant, were elected officers in the Harnett County Republican Party at the Coats Community Center. Another timely event was the Ennis Reunion which was held every year on the third Sunday in July. This spelled excitement for the 250—300 people who gathered at the Primitive Zion Church (Daily Record July 22, 1959).
Who remembers Bennie Ray Barbour? The July 27, 1959 edition of the Daily Record shared that Bennie had joined the Marine Corps. Bennie was the son of Mrs. Gertie Barbour and the late Lunday Barbour of Coats.
Two more deaths were posted in the paper. Andrew V. Parrish, 67, of Coats, had died on Thursday. His services were held at the Bethel PB Church. Elder Frank Nordan officiated. He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Ada E. Parrish; two daughters, Mrs. Jim Clayton and Miss Adna Parrish; five sons-Vernon, Leron, Eston, Berlon, and Clelton Parrish. He had one sister, Mrs. L.N. Hayes (Daily Record July 31, 1959).
The second death was that of James Bennett Lockamy, 75, of rural Coats. He was the son of the late William and Annie Spivey Lockamy. His services were held at Prospect Freewill Baptist Church. He had four sons- Odis, Warren, Ira, and Madison Lockamy (Daily Record -Between July31 and Aug. 12- 1959).
Do you think that the farmers were reworking their farm schedules to attend all these funerals? I do know that tobacco sales were averaging $.62 per pound (Daily Record August 12, 1959). What does a pound average in 2016?
You have read the name Rev. Ralph Byrd in many of the obituaries. This time it appears for a different and happier occasion. Rev. Byrd was honored with a “This is Your Life” program. He had pastored the Woods Grove Church for nine years. His father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Byrd; his immediate family of Coats; his four brothers-R.K., C.R., Jr., Stanton, Watson, and sisters-Mrs. Gene Wood, Miss Linda Byrd, and Miss Marie Byrd were present and took part on the program (Daily Record August 14, 1959). Who was his immediate family? Was it Billie Jean, Patsy, Judy, Larry, Ronnie and Sherry Byrd?
Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Ennis were parents of a daughter on August 27th. The mother was the former Evelyn Ennis (Daily Record Aug. 28, 1959).
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Garland Huff were married on Friday night, August 28, at 8:00 at the home of the bride, Elder B.L. Godwin of Coats. The groom was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Garland Huff of Raleigh. Ann and Jerry were graduates of Coats High School (Daily Record Sept. 4, 1959).
The Coats Goodwill Club met at Tyler Park for their annual club picnic. Special guests were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hawley who was introduced by Rep. Carson Gregory. Mrs. Rupert Parrish presided over the seventy people who attended (Daily Record Sept. 10, 1959).
Sue Altman and Robert Matthews were married on Sunday. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Wiburn Altman of Coats (Daily Record Sept. 14, 1959).
The Women of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church had their monthly meeting with hostesses Mrs. Frank Elliott and Mrs. Wade Coats. Mrs. Charles Denning presided. Mrs. Rob Adams had the program, God’s “Dare You” (Daily Record Oct. 9, 1959).
Mrs. Sudie Wise Fowler, 65, of Erwin and sister to Mrs. Mary Pleasant of Coats, had expired at her home in Erwin on Saturday night. Mrs. China Norris Ryals, 87, died Saturday afternoon at her home in Erwin. Her sister, Mrs. Polly Ann Nordan of Coats was one of her two surviving sisters.
Wonder if those attending the services cared anything about what was going in Coats School. If so, they likely were disappointed to hear that the Coats team was defeated by the Benson team 27-6 in football. Earl Denning got Coats into the scoring with a 42-yard run in the fourth quarter (Daily Record Oct. 12, 1959).
The Coats Baptist Church had held a dedication service of the new house for their pastor, J. Ben Elder, on Sunday afternoon-October 14th. Rev. Weldon Johnson assisted in the service before the house tour was given. Does anyone know where that house is today?
This I do know. Some of those same parents likely had attended the Coats PTA meeting where Mrs. Carlie McLamb presided in the absence of the president. The first grade students sang songs and said prayers that they had learned the first five weeks of school. Four of Mr. Steve Stephenson’s students performed and they were Lois Ann Johnson, June Powell, Sue Stephenson and Sue Turlington. Who remembers who the first grade teachers were in 1959? Were they Mrs. Percy Parrish, Mrs. Carroll, and Miss Buckner (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1959).
Laura Ann and Linda Sue Turlington had won a top award with their Champion Duroc Sow in the junior swine show at the NC State Fair (Daily Record Oct. 16, 1959).
The people in the community have been remarkable in sharing items to be displayed at various times in the museum. Norman D. Coe visited last week bringing a military book and a framed aerial view photo of our area taken of Hurricane Fran in September of 1996. Hilda Pope brought in Larry Smith’s military jacket from 1943. Pat Godwin dropped by the museum and donated two vintage stone bowls belonging to her husband Larry’s mother-Mrs. Lettie Godwin. What are bowls made of in your cabinets? Thank you goes to all of these wonderful supporters.
We received a memorial donation given to the Coats Museum Endowment for Mrs. Alice Thornton Johnson to honor her birthday. The Coats Museum Endowment was established in 2006 by the museum, Coats Lions Club and the Coats Kiwanis Club. The donations given to the Coats Museum Endowment are sent to the NC Community Foundation where they are invested. A portion of the return on the investments can be used by the museum for upkeep. The donations hopefully will grow the fund so it will be large enough in the future to mainly support the operation of the museum.
The Coats Museum Endowment is one of the thirty-one funds in the Harnett County Community Fund under the NC Community Foundation. We were delighted to have Dawn Neighbors and Noel McLaughlin from the NC Community Foundation in Raleigh to come by and spend a couple of hours to tour our museums last week.