August 18, 2023 Coats Museum News
When is the last time you attended a retirement party or a wedding anniversary celebration? Have you even read about one lately? I do know that in May of 1993 there were two such celebrations attended by Coats folks and beyond. Garner Rose Ennis had worked at Erwin Mills for forty-six years and retired. To celebrate the event, about eighty or ninety friends from work, neighborhood and church enjoyed a big party of food and fun in their festively decorated house on NC 27 outside of town.
Several Coats residents had headed to Greenville, NC to the 50th wedding anniversary of F.P. and Grace Williams Cade. Gail and Hilda Pope, Thomas and Belle Williams, Frances and Everett Fanning, LaRue Tart, Clint Honeycutt, Roger Tart, Rebecca Williams, Garry Williams and Wilma Byrd were some of the folks that Belle in her “Notes” in the Daily Record had recorded as making the trip to the anniversary celebration.
Belle had also shared that Jesse Johnson had lost an uncle, Robert Johnson, of Erwin. The Coats Senior Athletes were pictured when they had attended the Mid-Carolina Regional Games. Those pictured were Lydia Byrd, Hilda Pope, Helen Carroll, Hazel Barnes, Rebeth Mitchell, Allene Honeycutt, Thessie Daniel, Monroe Johnson, Joe Lee, Eloise Lee, Howard Penny, Gail Pope, Tom Cherry and Paul Johnson. Delbert Lockamy and Wil Breeden were also athletes in attendance to the event.
Dana Stanley of the Daily Record staff shared the love story of Billy Smith and Christal Norris who had met at the Crusader Camp in Dunn where he was an evangelist and she was a camper. After two plus years of dating, the couple married. Billy was from Coats (Daily Record May 20, 1993). Does anyone remember this couple?
I do know that another church event had occurred and was written up in the May 21, 1993 edition of the Daily Record. The Coats Church of God, located at South Isabella Street, observed Pastor Appreciation on Sunday. Rev. Jimmy W. Tripp, his wife Renee, and children Shawn and Labreesko were pictured in the record. Wayne Norris was the featured speaker and the ladies Ministries Department honored the pastor with a luncheon.
A double-ring ceremony officiated by Rev. Jesse Mooney united Patricia U. McFall and Derek Currin in marriage in Coats. The bride’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. McFall of Henderson and Derek’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Currin of Coats. The church was beautifully decorated as was the home of groom’s where a reception was held following the ceremony.
The Coats Middle School was the setting for the sports banquet where athletes were awarded recognition and honors for the year. Jerrode Ray was recognized as the MVP in football. Adam Ennis won the offense and Gary Walden the defensive trophies. Daniel West won the Yellow Jacket Award and Ashley Stewart earned the most improved while James Norris carried home the Sportsmanship recognition.
In boys ‘basketball, Gary Walden was recognized as MVP. Adam Ennis won offense and Shantee Baker the defense trophies. Garyen Denning took home the Yellow Jacket Award and Joey Hawley was recognized as the most improved. Patrick Jenkins was awarded the Sportsmanship honor.
In the girls’ basketball arena, Melissa Byrd was selected as MVP. Jennifer Penny won offense honors and Cary Clark was the defensive winner. Beth Stanley was the Yellow Jacket Recipient. Dru Coats was most improved, and Tara Plummer earned the sportsmanship trophy.
The cheerleading squad was not to be left out. Angie McLeod had won the most outstanding cheerleader; Vanecia Stewart was the most dedicated cheerleader while Misty Thompson received the Yellow Jacket recipient and Tiffany Denton earned the most improved cheerer.
In the co-ed soccer division, Patrick Jenkins was MVP. Nicholas Pope won the offense award and Tony Beasley earned defense honors. Brad Stewart was the Yellow Jacket honoree. Alicia Dixon showed the most improved and David Taylor took home the sportsmanship honor.
In volleyball, Melissa Byrd was MVP and Beth Stanley best offensive player. Crystal Maynor was recognized as the best defense player. Angie McLeod received the Yellow Jacket Award and Shannon Williams carried home the most improved. Lori Barnes was recognized for her sportsmanship.
In the baseball category, Adam Ennis won the MVP; Ashley Stewart, offense; Gary Walden, defense; Billy Lorenza, Yellow Jacket Award; James Norris, the most improved and Brad Walker the sportsmanship.
In girls’ softball category, Melissa Byrd was picked the MVP; Crystal Maynor, offense; Beth Stanley, defense; Angie McLeod, Yellow Jacket Award; Shannon Williams, most improved; and Lori Barnes sportsmanship (Daily Record May 26, 1993).
As a former teacher at Coats when these students were so involved in sports, I can see their young faces and can recall the enthusiasm that they had; but it occurs to me that was over 30 years ago and most of them have children older than what they were when they were winning these m any honors.
Notes from Belle shared that the descendants of Lee A. and Lida Lassiter Turlington had held their annual family reunion in the Coats area at the home of Graham and Effie Turlington.
Shall be back paddle and recall reading that the Joseph H and Louella Lassiter Penny had held a family reunion at Hal Penny’s house. A point of interest is that Lida and Louella were sisters and had moved after marriage to the Coats area from Johnston County. Would it not be interesting to find out how the men met these two sisters from the Elevation Road in that county? I do know that Joseph Lassiter from Johnston gave Louella a farm in the Penny area. Did he also give one to Lida in the Turlington area where the two families were neighbors. There are a large number of Turlington and Penny families living where their ancestors lived. You have heard many, many times which came first the chicken or the egg? Question, which family came to the area first-the Turlington or the Penny?
We enjoyed a visit from Ralph Denning who came by to say hello and give memorials for Penny Coats Lee and H.L. Thank you Ralph for your generosity to help support the museum. Randy Stephenson is working diligently to see the possibility of increasing exhibit space for the many stored artifacts. Lenny Parker destroys our uninvited grass and weeds from our landscaping while Robie Butler keeps our financial records in order. How fortunate we are to have dedicated volunteers. We invite folks to come by the museum where it is educational and cool. We have lots of interesting things to see and plans for even more at the museum. Come and be a part of them.
When is the last time you attended a retirement party or a wedding anniversary celebration? Have you even read about one lately? I do know that in May of 1993 there were two such celebrations attended by Coats folks and beyond. Garner Rose Ennis had worked at Erwin Mills for forty-six years and retired. To celebrate the event, about eighty or ninety friends from work, neighborhood and church enjoyed a big party of food and fun in their festively decorated house on NC 27 outside of town.
Several Coats residents had headed to Greenville, NC to the 50th wedding anniversary of F.P. and Grace Williams Cade. Gail and Hilda Pope, Thomas and Belle Williams, Frances and Everett Fanning, LaRue Tart, Clint Honeycutt, Roger Tart, Rebecca Williams, Garry Williams and Wilma Byrd were some of the folks that Belle in her “Notes” in the Daily Record had recorded as making the trip to the anniversary celebration.
Belle had also shared that Jesse Johnson had lost an uncle, Robert Johnson, of Erwin. The Coats Senior Athletes were pictured when they had attended the Mid-Carolina Regional Games. Those pictured were Lydia Byrd, Hilda Pope, Helen Carroll, Hazel Barnes, Rebeth Mitchell, Allene Honeycutt, Thessie Daniel, Monroe Johnson, Joe Lee, Eloise Lee, Howard Penny, Gail Pope, Tom Cherry and Paul Johnson. Delbert Lockamy and Wil Breeden were also athletes in attendance to the event.
Dana Stanley of the Daily Record staff shared the love story of Billy Smith and Christal Norris who had met at the Crusader Camp in Dunn where he was an evangelist and she was a camper. After two plus years of dating, the couple married. Billy was from Coats (Daily Record May 20, 1993). Does anyone remember this couple?
I do know that another church event had occurred and was written up in the May 21, 1993 edition of the Daily Record. The Coats Church of God, located at South Isabella Street, observed Pastor Appreciation on Sunday. Rev. Jimmy W. Tripp, his wife Renee, and children Shawn and Labreesko were pictured in the record. Wayne Norris was the featured speaker and the ladies Ministries Department honored the pastor with a luncheon.
A double-ring ceremony officiated by Rev. Jesse Mooney united Patricia U. McFall and Derek Currin in marriage in Coats. The bride’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. McFall of Henderson and Derek’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Currin of Coats. The church was beautifully decorated as was the home of groom’s where a reception was held following the ceremony.
The Coats Middle School was the setting for the sports banquet where athletes were awarded recognition and honors for the year. Jerrode Ray was recognized as the MVP in football. Adam Ennis won the offense and Gary Walden the defensive trophies. Daniel West won the Yellow Jacket Award and Ashley Stewart earned the most improved while James Norris carried home the Sportsmanship recognition.
In boys ‘basketball, Gary Walden was recognized as MVP. Adam Ennis won offense and Shantee Baker the defense trophies. Garyen Denning took home the Yellow Jacket Award and Joey Hawley was recognized as the most improved. Patrick Jenkins was awarded the Sportsmanship honor.
In the girls’ basketball arena, Melissa Byrd was selected as MVP. Jennifer Penny won offense honors and Cary Clark was the defensive winner. Beth Stanley was the Yellow Jacket Recipient. Dru Coats was most improved, and Tara Plummer earned the sportsmanship trophy.
The cheerleading squad was not to be left out. Angie McLeod had won the most outstanding cheerleader; Vanecia Stewart was the most dedicated cheerleader while Misty Thompson received the Yellow Jacket recipient and Tiffany Denton earned the most improved cheerer.
In the co-ed soccer division, Patrick Jenkins was MVP. Nicholas Pope won the offense award and Tony Beasley earned defense honors. Brad Stewart was the Yellow Jacket honoree. Alicia Dixon showed the most improved and David Taylor took home the sportsmanship honor.
In volleyball, Melissa Byrd was MVP and Beth Stanley best offensive player. Crystal Maynor was recognized as the best defense player. Angie McLeod received the Yellow Jacket Award and Shannon Williams carried home the most improved. Lori Barnes was recognized for her sportsmanship.
In the baseball category, Adam Ennis won the MVP; Ashley Stewart, offense; Gary Walden, defense; Billy Lorenza, Yellow Jacket Award; James Norris, the most improved and Brad Walker the sportsmanship.
In girls’ softball category, Melissa Byrd was picked the MVP; Crystal Maynor, offense; Beth Stanley, defense; Angie McLeod, Yellow Jacket Award; Shannon Williams, most improved; and Lori Barnes sportsmanship (Daily Record May 26, 1993).
As a former teacher at Coats when these students were so involved in sports, I can see their young faces and can recall the enthusiasm that they had; but it occurs to me that was over 30 years ago and most of them have children older than what they were when they were winning these m any honors.
Notes from Belle shared that the descendants of Lee A. and Lida Lassiter Turlington had held their annual family reunion in the Coats area at the home of Graham and Effie Turlington.
Shall be back paddle and recall reading that the Joseph H and Louella Lassiter Penny had held a family reunion at Hal Penny’s house. A point of interest is that Lida and Louella were sisters and had moved after marriage to the Coats area from Johnston County. Would it not be interesting to find out how the men met these two sisters from the Elevation Road in that county? I do know that Joseph Lassiter from Johnston gave Louella a farm in the Penny area. Did he also give one to Lida in the Turlington area where the two families were neighbors. There are a large number of Turlington and Penny families living where their ancestors lived. You have heard many, many times which came first the chicken or the egg? Question, which family came to the area first-the Turlington or the Penny?
We enjoyed a visit from Ralph Denning who came by to say hello and give memorials for Penny Coats Lee and H.L. Thank you Ralph for your generosity to help support the museum. Randy Stephenson is working diligently to see the possibility of increasing exhibit space for the many stored artifacts. Lenny Parker destroys our uninvited grass and weeds from our landscaping while Robie Butler keeps our financial records in order. How fortunate we are to have dedicated volunteers. We invite folks to come by the museum where it is educational and cool. We have lots of interesting things to see and plans for even more at the museum. Come and be a part of them.