August 25, 2023 Coats Museum News
Are more weddings in June than any other month? I do know that LuAnn Stewart was planning her wedding on June 14th at the Coats Baptist Church. Do you remember LuAnn? She is daughter of Eugene and Mary Stewart and sister of Don and Ken. When we think of that family we think of cars and planes. Since the 1920s,’ until they closed the dealership a few years back, that was the place to buy a car. Then there is the aviation side of those Stewarts. Eugene, Don, Ken and LuAnn all add pilot licenses to their many accomplishments.
LuAnn was a former student of mine and sometimes she would drop by the museum when she was home to visit her family here. She would bring her young daughter with her and it is hard to believe how fast time has passed because LuAnn shared with me the last time I saw her that her daughter is working on her PH.D.
Belle in her “Notes” wrote that Baxton Pollard was in NC Memorial Hospital at Chapel Hill. His grandson Lee Joseph Pollard had missed the awards presentation at Triton because he had chicken pox. She also wrote that Lanette Riddle had celebrated her 16th birthday. Charles Tripp and Lisa Tripp thanked the many friends who had supported them in the time of the death of JoAnne Trip-wife and mother of the two.
Congratulations were sent to Barbara Pollard who had received the Bus Driver Award at Coats Elementary School. The youth at Oakdale had a yard sale planned. Rev. Joe Norris was pastor of the church. Several students from Coats had graduated from universities. Eric Mangum from Appalachian was one. Friends and family from Coats who were in attendance for the ceremony were Edna and Tony Mangum, Clyde and Leola Andrews, Ann Mangum Adams, Robin Collins, Bob and Joe Collins, Melissa, Steve, Scott, and Christa Collins and a friend Tim (Daily Record May 27, 1993). Did I leave any out who attended?
I do know that John W. Jernigan, 35, of Park Street in Coats had died at Wake Medical Center. He was a self-employed general contractor and was the son of the late John B. Jernigan. Revs. Charles Norris and Ronnie Byrd conducted the services at Price Funeral Chapel and Sandy Grove PB Church near Angier. Surviving him was his wife, Diane D. Jernigan; two sons-John Steven and Alex Wayne Jernigan, a daughter Christy Carol and his mother-Iva Barefoot Jernigan (Daily Record May 31, 1993).
Another Coats area person had died. Lucille Ennis Stephenson, 67, of Coats had died on Monday at BJMH in Dunn. She was born on November 15, 1925 in Johnston County and was the daughter of Calvin and Maude Godwin Stephenson. She was the widow of Clellon Stephenson. Her services were held at Full Gospel Tabernacle by Rev. Willie Jones and in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving her were Rebecca S. Stewart and Sandy S. Turlington. Her three sons were Charles, Rayvon and Tony. Rudolph and Garner Rose Ennis were her brothers. Don’t you have some memories of those folks?
Grover M. Godwin, originally from Coats, had received his B.S. Degree in Behavioral Science with a minor in criminal justice from Trevecca Nazarene College located in Nashville, TN. The honor student planned to continue his studies at Indiana State University where he had received $7,500 scholarship graduate student teaching assistantship and an academic scholarship. His goal was to receive a PH.D in Forensic Psychology. Maurice was the son of Priscilla McKinnie and Halford Godwin. Lector McGee was his grandmother (Daily Record June 1, 1993). Don’t you bet he achieved that goal and how proud Pricilla and family were of him?
Another honor came to Rev. Ralph O. Byrd. The CACC honored him as the Focus of the Week. He was pictured with his sons-Rev. Ronnie Byrd, Larry Byrd and CACC President Darrell Smith. The much respected and award-winning citizen was the son of C.R. Byrd (Daily Record June 2, 1993).
Another fine Coats resident was recognized by her children. Ettie Mae Pleasant was honored on her 81st birthday. Each year the children had gathered to celebrate her big day and this year it was at the home of J.L. and Della Pleasant. The proud mother of seven sons reminded people of that fact but quickly shared that she had daughters-in-law of whom she was equally proud.
Lots of Belle’s readers were pulling for Banks Pollard who was to have surgery for a repair of an aneurysm. He was donating his own blood for the operation. Margeline Pope Myatt had undergone major surgery. Rosa Lee Moore spent time at Coats School where she loved being with young people. After being with Miss Irene Baldwin for end-of-year testing, Miss Baldwin thanked Mrs. Moore with a lovely flower. Do you bet the students knew she loved being with young people?
I do know that Darwin and Marilyn Whittington were visiting in Coats and placed beautiful flowers in the Baptist Church to honor the memory of Millard and Vada Whittington. (The couple was Darwin’s parents).
Mrs. Rosa Abbott and her son Gordon Carroway had visited with Rosa’s sister and brother-in-law-Roy and Elma Langdon. Today Abbott is not a popular name in the Coats area but do you recall that it was in the Barclaysville area in long days ago?
Colonel Barry Horne spoke to the Coats Lions Club. Lion Wayne Royal who was a classmate of Col. Horne introduced him to the club members. The colonel gave a slide presentation on Operation Desert Storm. He showed slides of the Stealth Fighter and others of the bomber’s destruction in Baghdad (Daily Record June 5, 1993).
The CACC recognized the Tommy Ennis Insurance Agency as the Business Focus of the Week. Both Judy and Tommy were born and raised in the Coats area. Tommy was a leader in Coats High School where he served as Vice-President of the FFA and was a member of the prestigious Parliamentary Procedure contest that participated in the state finals. Tommy has been associated with the Tews Warehouse in Dunn for Seventeen years most of which he was manager of the farm managing firm. Tommy and Judy were active in local civic groups and organizations. They are parents of Domini Ennis Pierce, an educator in Cumberland County. Elaine, the second daughter, is a RN at the New Hanover Hospital in Wilmington. The insurance agency was associated with the Wittington Associates of Willow Spring (Daily Record June 9, 1993).
The genealogy of the Beasley family can be traced back to the time that there was no Coats but were a Troyville, Barclaysville and Turlington. In fact, Edna Beasley was born before Coats was chartered in 1905. She had been around a long time. So it is not surprising that she was the recipient of a surprise filled 90th birthday at her favorite Lane’s restaurant for dinner. There she found forty family members and friends waiting upstairs to make it a night to remember by the grand lady (Daily Record June 10, 1993).
Did you answer the question if there are more weddings in June than any other month? No- there are not even though we often hear the expression that she was a June bride. In fact, according to 2022 wedding statistics, the most weddings took place in October when 20 percent of all weddings occurred while in February, only 3 percent of couples had their wedding. The trend now is to have a wedding between September and November when 43 percent occur.
Are more weddings in June than any other month? I do know that LuAnn Stewart was planning her wedding on June 14th at the Coats Baptist Church. Do you remember LuAnn? She is daughter of Eugene and Mary Stewart and sister of Don and Ken. When we think of that family we think of cars and planes. Since the 1920s,’ until they closed the dealership a few years back, that was the place to buy a car. Then there is the aviation side of those Stewarts. Eugene, Don, Ken and LuAnn all add pilot licenses to their many accomplishments.
LuAnn was a former student of mine and sometimes she would drop by the museum when she was home to visit her family here. She would bring her young daughter with her and it is hard to believe how fast time has passed because LuAnn shared with me the last time I saw her that her daughter is working on her PH.D.
Belle in her “Notes” wrote that Baxton Pollard was in NC Memorial Hospital at Chapel Hill. His grandson Lee Joseph Pollard had missed the awards presentation at Triton because he had chicken pox. She also wrote that Lanette Riddle had celebrated her 16th birthday. Charles Tripp and Lisa Tripp thanked the many friends who had supported them in the time of the death of JoAnne Trip-wife and mother of the two.
Congratulations were sent to Barbara Pollard who had received the Bus Driver Award at Coats Elementary School. The youth at Oakdale had a yard sale planned. Rev. Joe Norris was pastor of the church. Several students from Coats had graduated from universities. Eric Mangum from Appalachian was one. Friends and family from Coats who were in attendance for the ceremony were Edna and Tony Mangum, Clyde and Leola Andrews, Ann Mangum Adams, Robin Collins, Bob and Joe Collins, Melissa, Steve, Scott, and Christa Collins and a friend Tim (Daily Record May 27, 1993). Did I leave any out who attended?
I do know that John W. Jernigan, 35, of Park Street in Coats had died at Wake Medical Center. He was a self-employed general contractor and was the son of the late John B. Jernigan. Revs. Charles Norris and Ronnie Byrd conducted the services at Price Funeral Chapel and Sandy Grove PB Church near Angier. Surviving him was his wife, Diane D. Jernigan; two sons-John Steven and Alex Wayne Jernigan, a daughter Christy Carol and his mother-Iva Barefoot Jernigan (Daily Record May 31, 1993).
Another Coats area person had died. Lucille Ennis Stephenson, 67, of Coats had died on Monday at BJMH in Dunn. She was born on November 15, 1925 in Johnston County and was the daughter of Calvin and Maude Godwin Stephenson. She was the widow of Clellon Stephenson. Her services were held at Full Gospel Tabernacle by Rev. Willie Jones and in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving her were Rebecca S. Stewart and Sandy S. Turlington. Her three sons were Charles, Rayvon and Tony. Rudolph and Garner Rose Ennis were her brothers. Don’t you have some memories of those folks?
Grover M. Godwin, originally from Coats, had received his B.S. Degree in Behavioral Science with a minor in criminal justice from Trevecca Nazarene College located in Nashville, TN. The honor student planned to continue his studies at Indiana State University where he had received $7,500 scholarship graduate student teaching assistantship and an academic scholarship. His goal was to receive a PH.D in Forensic Psychology. Maurice was the son of Priscilla McKinnie and Halford Godwin. Lector McGee was his grandmother (Daily Record June 1, 1993). Don’t you bet he achieved that goal and how proud Pricilla and family were of him?
Another honor came to Rev. Ralph O. Byrd. The CACC honored him as the Focus of the Week. He was pictured with his sons-Rev. Ronnie Byrd, Larry Byrd and CACC President Darrell Smith. The much respected and award-winning citizen was the son of C.R. Byrd (Daily Record June 2, 1993).
Another fine Coats resident was recognized by her children. Ettie Mae Pleasant was honored on her 81st birthday. Each year the children had gathered to celebrate her big day and this year it was at the home of J.L. and Della Pleasant. The proud mother of seven sons reminded people of that fact but quickly shared that she had daughters-in-law of whom she was equally proud.
Lots of Belle’s readers were pulling for Banks Pollard who was to have surgery for a repair of an aneurysm. He was donating his own blood for the operation. Margeline Pope Myatt had undergone major surgery. Rosa Lee Moore spent time at Coats School where she loved being with young people. After being with Miss Irene Baldwin for end-of-year testing, Miss Baldwin thanked Mrs. Moore with a lovely flower. Do you bet the students knew she loved being with young people?
I do know that Darwin and Marilyn Whittington were visiting in Coats and placed beautiful flowers in the Baptist Church to honor the memory of Millard and Vada Whittington. (The couple was Darwin’s parents).
Mrs. Rosa Abbott and her son Gordon Carroway had visited with Rosa’s sister and brother-in-law-Roy and Elma Langdon. Today Abbott is not a popular name in the Coats area but do you recall that it was in the Barclaysville area in long days ago?
Colonel Barry Horne spoke to the Coats Lions Club. Lion Wayne Royal who was a classmate of Col. Horne introduced him to the club members. The colonel gave a slide presentation on Operation Desert Storm. He showed slides of the Stealth Fighter and others of the bomber’s destruction in Baghdad (Daily Record June 5, 1993).
The CACC recognized the Tommy Ennis Insurance Agency as the Business Focus of the Week. Both Judy and Tommy were born and raised in the Coats area. Tommy was a leader in Coats High School where he served as Vice-President of the FFA and was a member of the prestigious Parliamentary Procedure contest that participated in the state finals. Tommy has been associated with the Tews Warehouse in Dunn for Seventeen years most of which he was manager of the farm managing firm. Tommy and Judy were active in local civic groups and organizations. They are parents of Domini Ennis Pierce, an educator in Cumberland County. Elaine, the second daughter, is a RN at the New Hanover Hospital in Wilmington. The insurance agency was associated with the Wittington Associates of Willow Spring (Daily Record June 9, 1993).
The genealogy of the Beasley family can be traced back to the time that there was no Coats but were a Troyville, Barclaysville and Turlington. In fact, Edna Beasley was born before Coats was chartered in 1905. She had been around a long time. So it is not surprising that she was the recipient of a surprise filled 90th birthday at her favorite Lane’s restaurant for dinner. There she found forty family members and friends waiting upstairs to make it a night to remember by the grand lady (Daily Record June 10, 1993).
Did you answer the question if there are more weddings in June than any other month? No- there are not even though we often hear the expression that she was a June bride. In fact, according to 2022 wedding statistics, the most weddings took place in October when 20 percent of all weddings occurred while in February, only 3 percent of couples had their wedding. The trend now is to have a wedding between September and November when 43 percent occur.