August 4, 2023 Coats Museum News
Death stayed busy in April of 1993 in the Coats area. Bronnie H. Ennis, 78, of Route One, Benson (in the Oakdale area) had died in Rex Hospital. Bronnie was a longtime member of Hodges Chapel Church and a member of the Coats Jr. Order No. 417. His services were held at the Coats Methodist Church with burial in the Hodges Chapel Church Cemetery. His wife, Hautense Denning Ennis, daughters-Betty Sue Spence, Ann Whittington and Joan Brown survived him. His stepchildren were Ralph and Larry Denning, Peggie Pope and Carolyn Barnes. Two of his siblings were Oliver (Chic) Ennis and Christine Creech. His deceased parents were J.B. Ennis and Maggie Sorrell Ennis.
Another name familiar to Coats folks was that of John Mac Ferrell of Buies Creek. He had died on Saturday at Wake Medical Center. Revs. Rick Jeffered and Ronnie Byrd officiated at the services at Price Funeral Chapel and Lakeside Memorial Park. Bessie Matthews Ferrell survived her husband. Jerry Mac and Terry Donald Ferrell and Vicky M. Watson survived their father. Gene Ferrell, Maude F. Hughes and Mae F. Matthews were siblings (Daily Record Apr. 26, 1993).
Many of you may recognize the name Gene Ferrell. He was an excellent carpenter for Melvin Turlington of Lillington. His skills are found in some of the bigger houses in the Coats area and in the Prospect Church. His grandson, son of Charlotte, donated the beautiful china cabinet in our Grandma’s Attic and it is filled with some of our lovely pottery, Avon bottles, carnival glass and many more collectibles.
Some folks called him “The Minnow Man.” Joe Penny, the patriarch of the ponds and the friend of fish, had been in the minnow business for half of a century. He was pictured by the Daily Record as being slim and trim with a gray mustache and the gentleness of a man truly at peace with himself and the world. His face had smile lines and he smiled often, with just about every other word. The business sold fish all over the state. He tried to raise about 300 to 400 pounds per acre. He began by selling three or four dozen minnows for a dollar.
The N.C. Historical Marker Advisory Committee turned down the marker to recognize Alton Stewart as the first licensed pilot in N.C. The rejection was because they could not establish the fact that he was the “first” licensed pilot due to lack of records from that time.
Dewey “D.J.” McLamb, 66, of Route One, Coats, had died on Sunday. He was a retired electrical supervisor at Kelly Springfield in Fayetteville. D.J. was the son of the late Dewey, Sr. and Ethel Williams McLamb. He was a veteran of WWII in the U.S. Navy and a member of the Red Hill PFWB where services were held. His wife, Elsie Munden McLamb, and children-Danny, Tommy, and Shelia survived him. Five siblings also survived him-Marshall, Olman, Kenneth and Mrs. John Smythe. These names bring fond memories. Shelia posts pictures on Facebook of her beautiful mom, Mrs. Elsie often.
Another family was saddened by a death of a loved one. Joanne Weaver Tripp, 52, of Coats, had died on Monday. She was the daughter of the late John Weaver and Ila Adams Weaver. Joanne was a native of Harnett County. Her services were held at the Coats Rose and Graham Funeral Home Chapel and the Lakeside Memorial Gardens. Surviving her were her husband, Charles Tripp, and a daughter, Lisa T. West, and two sons- Scott and Derek Tripp. Her brothers were Mack, J.D. and Charles-all of Coats (Daily Record Apr. 27, 1993).
The question of annexation into Coats brought about 200 people to the town board meeting where dozens of homeowners expressed reasons for their not wanting to be annexed into the town of Coats. The reason varied from currently owning horses and livestock to not having the money to pay additional taxes.
Mrs. Lector Langdon celebrated her 93rd birthday with a party. She was pictured with her daughter, Brookie L. Tripp, granddaughter Juanita Dean, great-grandson, Ricky Dean, and great-great-grandson Tyler Dean. Mrs. Langdon had eight children- Drexel, Brookie, Daywood, Berlene, Devaul, Danville, Don and Brenda Langdon (Daily Record Apr. 28, 1993).
Isn’t it amazing how names spark memories that have been shared with you over the years? Recall recently that I shared how my dad always told stories around our formal dining room setting. I don’t know why I only remember them being told in that very formal setting and not the informal one. Possibly it was because it was at that informal table that we hurried off to school or to work on the farm.
He often spoke of the pretty girls in our area when he was a young man growing up in the northeastern part of Harnett County. My mother (not from this county) always smiled as he shared his stories. However, my dad was not the only one who shared stories. One day in the museum, Dudley Langdon visited us at the Research Library and told me that he had reminded my dad one day in passing our farm and seeing my dad outside, stopped to talk to Dad and told him how his grandmother, Mrs. Lector Langdon, shared that she had been taught to drive a car by my dad many years ago.
I, too, have memories of that Langdon family. I remember Brenda who needed assistance in school because she was unable to talk clearly and that Joanne Tripp who was mentioned above as having died was always with Brenda helping her maneuver through school. I remember Mrs. Brookie working at Belks upstairs in Dunn. Then there are the stories of the boxing matches at Barclaysville on the Langdon store property and Mr. Daywood with his first tractor. It is hard not to think about Bethany sitting so attentively in my English classes. There was always some special about the Langdon family and I could probably write an entire column on that family.
Even though the Coats Senior Center had a large number of participants mainly from within the city limits, there are many who drove a few miles to share fellowship there. One such person was Louise Ennis who was our pianist and organist at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church; however, on this day Louise was being recognized as a member of the Swinging Elders. More than 50 people gathered in the banquet room at the Western Sizzlin to honor her for being such a faithful servant to the senior group and talented pianist for many years. Carolyn Moore donated an orchid corsage for Mrs. Ennis. The accomplished pianist was honored for her 18 years of faithful service to the Swinging Elders. Her children, Linda E. Kimbrough, Joe and Johnny Ennis and their wives joined the happy event.
Other information shared in Belle’s Notes was that Joe and Eloise Lee had returned from a vacation to Sapphire Valley, N.C. and that the mother of Dovie Beasley had died in Alabama (Daily Record Apr. 29, 1993).
The museum volunteers are so saddened by two deaths connected to the museum. Margaret Johnson, mother of Jerry Gardner and aunt to Mike Tocci, died this week. She visited us several times and was so proud to see the beautiful wedding dress and gown belonging to her sister Alma Dean Tocci on display in the museum. Penny Coats Lee, daughter of Garland Coats and sister of Mike Coats, died on Sunday morning. Penny and Bob were always so supportive of our many events at the museum.
Death stayed busy in April of 1993 in the Coats area. Bronnie H. Ennis, 78, of Route One, Benson (in the Oakdale area) had died in Rex Hospital. Bronnie was a longtime member of Hodges Chapel Church and a member of the Coats Jr. Order No. 417. His services were held at the Coats Methodist Church with burial in the Hodges Chapel Church Cemetery. His wife, Hautense Denning Ennis, daughters-Betty Sue Spence, Ann Whittington and Joan Brown survived him. His stepchildren were Ralph and Larry Denning, Peggie Pope and Carolyn Barnes. Two of his siblings were Oliver (Chic) Ennis and Christine Creech. His deceased parents were J.B. Ennis and Maggie Sorrell Ennis.
Another name familiar to Coats folks was that of John Mac Ferrell of Buies Creek. He had died on Saturday at Wake Medical Center. Revs. Rick Jeffered and Ronnie Byrd officiated at the services at Price Funeral Chapel and Lakeside Memorial Park. Bessie Matthews Ferrell survived her husband. Jerry Mac and Terry Donald Ferrell and Vicky M. Watson survived their father. Gene Ferrell, Maude F. Hughes and Mae F. Matthews were siblings (Daily Record Apr. 26, 1993).
Many of you may recognize the name Gene Ferrell. He was an excellent carpenter for Melvin Turlington of Lillington. His skills are found in some of the bigger houses in the Coats area and in the Prospect Church. His grandson, son of Charlotte, donated the beautiful china cabinet in our Grandma’s Attic and it is filled with some of our lovely pottery, Avon bottles, carnival glass and many more collectibles.
Some folks called him “The Minnow Man.” Joe Penny, the patriarch of the ponds and the friend of fish, had been in the minnow business for half of a century. He was pictured by the Daily Record as being slim and trim with a gray mustache and the gentleness of a man truly at peace with himself and the world. His face had smile lines and he smiled often, with just about every other word. The business sold fish all over the state. He tried to raise about 300 to 400 pounds per acre. He began by selling three or four dozen minnows for a dollar.
The N.C. Historical Marker Advisory Committee turned down the marker to recognize Alton Stewart as the first licensed pilot in N.C. The rejection was because they could not establish the fact that he was the “first” licensed pilot due to lack of records from that time.
Dewey “D.J.” McLamb, 66, of Route One, Coats, had died on Sunday. He was a retired electrical supervisor at Kelly Springfield in Fayetteville. D.J. was the son of the late Dewey, Sr. and Ethel Williams McLamb. He was a veteran of WWII in the U.S. Navy and a member of the Red Hill PFWB where services were held. His wife, Elsie Munden McLamb, and children-Danny, Tommy, and Shelia survived him. Five siblings also survived him-Marshall, Olman, Kenneth and Mrs. John Smythe. These names bring fond memories. Shelia posts pictures on Facebook of her beautiful mom, Mrs. Elsie often.
Another family was saddened by a death of a loved one. Joanne Weaver Tripp, 52, of Coats, had died on Monday. She was the daughter of the late John Weaver and Ila Adams Weaver. Joanne was a native of Harnett County. Her services were held at the Coats Rose and Graham Funeral Home Chapel and the Lakeside Memorial Gardens. Surviving her were her husband, Charles Tripp, and a daughter, Lisa T. West, and two sons- Scott and Derek Tripp. Her brothers were Mack, J.D. and Charles-all of Coats (Daily Record Apr. 27, 1993).
The question of annexation into Coats brought about 200 people to the town board meeting where dozens of homeowners expressed reasons for their not wanting to be annexed into the town of Coats. The reason varied from currently owning horses and livestock to not having the money to pay additional taxes.
Mrs. Lector Langdon celebrated her 93rd birthday with a party. She was pictured with her daughter, Brookie L. Tripp, granddaughter Juanita Dean, great-grandson, Ricky Dean, and great-great-grandson Tyler Dean. Mrs. Langdon had eight children- Drexel, Brookie, Daywood, Berlene, Devaul, Danville, Don and Brenda Langdon (Daily Record Apr. 28, 1993).
Isn’t it amazing how names spark memories that have been shared with you over the years? Recall recently that I shared how my dad always told stories around our formal dining room setting. I don’t know why I only remember them being told in that very formal setting and not the informal one. Possibly it was because it was at that informal table that we hurried off to school or to work on the farm.
He often spoke of the pretty girls in our area when he was a young man growing up in the northeastern part of Harnett County. My mother (not from this county) always smiled as he shared his stories. However, my dad was not the only one who shared stories. One day in the museum, Dudley Langdon visited us at the Research Library and told me that he had reminded my dad one day in passing our farm and seeing my dad outside, stopped to talk to Dad and told him how his grandmother, Mrs. Lector Langdon, shared that she had been taught to drive a car by my dad many years ago.
I, too, have memories of that Langdon family. I remember Brenda who needed assistance in school because she was unable to talk clearly and that Joanne Tripp who was mentioned above as having died was always with Brenda helping her maneuver through school. I remember Mrs. Brookie working at Belks upstairs in Dunn. Then there are the stories of the boxing matches at Barclaysville on the Langdon store property and Mr. Daywood with his first tractor. It is hard not to think about Bethany sitting so attentively in my English classes. There was always some special about the Langdon family and I could probably write an entire column on that family.
Even though the Coats Senior Center had a large number of participants mainly from within the city limits, there are many who drove a few miles to share fellowship there. One such person was Louise Ennis who was our pianist and organist at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church; however, on this day Louise was being recognized as a member of the Swinging Elders. More than 50 people gathered in the banquet room at the Western Sizzlin to honor her for being such a faithful servant to the senior group and talented pianist for many years. Carolyn Moore donated an orchid corsage for Mrs. Ennis. The accomplished pianist was honored for her 18 years of faithful service to the Swinging Elders. Her children, Linda E. Kimbrough, Joe and Johnny Ennis and their wives joined the happy event.
Other information shared in Belle’s Notes was that Joe and Eloise Lee had returned from a vacation to Sapphire Valley, N.C. and that the mother of Dovie Beasley had died in Alabama (Daily Record Apr. 29, 1993).
The museum volunteers are so saddened by two deaths connected to the museum. Margaret Johnson, mother of Jerry Gardner and aunt to Mike Tocci, died this week. She visited us several times and was so proud to see the beautiful wedding dress and gown belonging to her sister Alma Dean Tocci on display in the museum. Penny Coats Lee, daughter of Garland Coats and sister of Mike Coats, died on Sunday morning. Penny and Bob were always so supportive of our many events at the museum.