December 20, 2019 Coats Museum News
The June 22, 1981 edition of the Daily Record shared that an outstanding young man from the Oak Dale area had died at age 42. Bobby Sherrill Howard had died on Saturday and was the son of Tinker and Gertha Howard. Surviving him were a son Dewayne Howard and a daughter, Miss Daisy Diane Howard. His siblings were Bill C. Howard, Jesse Ray Howard and Mrs. Lottie (Dot) Norris and Mrs. Arlene Allen.
Did you recognize that it was this family who purchased the Oakdale School in 1950? Mr. Tinker would later allow the old school to be used basically as a community center for club meetings, showers and fish fries. The building actually was used to store cured tobacco before it was prepared for market while other parts of it were used as apartments. Hence, when the Howard name was mentioned, there was much respect evidenced.
Good news was in that same edition of the Daily Record on the 22nd. Rebecca Lynn Sutton and Thomas Willis Coats exchanged wedding vows on June 14that the Divine Methodist Church in Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Leland A. Sutton and Mr. and Mrs. Sherrill T. Coats were parents of the couple.
Did you recognize that the groom had Thomas in his name? It is interesting to note that “Thomas” was significant in that his father Sherrill was son of Otis Coats who was son of William Henry Coats who was son of Founder Thomas Coats- who came from the Pleasant Grove area of Johnston County with his bride Isabella Turlington, daughter of Andrew Jackson and Brazilla Denning Turlington of the Troyville Barclaysville area- and purchased over seven hundred acres of land from the heirs of Daniel Shaw. Hence if we forward to 2019, we will learn that Tommy and Lynn’s son is the current Mayor Chris Coats.
Death visited and took Mrs. Katie Godwin Turner, 75, of Coats had died on Wednesday at the home of her son, Bill Turner, in Laurel, Maryland. She was the widow of Jarvis Hayden Turner. The funeral services were held at Cromartie-Pearsall-Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Coats Baptist Rev. Howard Beard officiating. Burial was in the Turner Family Cemetery. Her sons were Harold, Hayden, William G. (Bill), and Ray D. Turner. Mrs. Neva Tart was her sister (Daily Record June 26, 1981).
The Daily Record, July 3, 1981 edition shared that Mrs. Jean Pope Lamm of Coats had died on Thursday. Her services were held at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church with burial in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving Mrs. Lamm were her husband, Russell Lamm; a daughter, Liza Lamm Ennis; two sons, Andy and Russell Jay Lamm. She was sibling to Mrs. Willie Davis, Mrs. Mildred Wheeler, Mrs. Dot Ferrell, Mrs. Mrs. Therlene Rondini, Mrs. Becky Eger, Mrs. Grace Stewart, Edward, Bobby and Tommy Pope.
There are many familiar names in that Pope family-good athletes, good neighbors and good friends.
John Henry Dowdy, 77, of Hampstead, N.Y. had died on Saturday. He was formerly of Coats. Mrs. Ernestine Spears of Erwin was a sibling. Services were held at Pisgah Top Holy Church and burial was in the Murchinson Church Cemetery (Daily Record July 6, 1981).
Thankfully the next few issues of the Daily Record had covered more pleasant news. The class of 1966 from Coats High School had held their class reunion at Howard Johnson Restaurant in Dunn. Ronny Denning was master of ceremony. Class members who attended were Janet Norris Stephenson, Brenda Barefoot McGilvray, Paulette Byrd Ivey, Janet Carlson, Edwin Parker Gilbert, Sue Turlington Clayton, Hope Stewart Turlington, Carolyn Lockamy Tart, Becky Wilmoth Taylor, Jeanette Stewart Pleasant, Ruth Sorrell Williams, Carol Franklin Parries, Glenda Flowers McLeod, Charlotte Tart Allen, Charles Malone, Jerry Beasley, Don House, Dwight Roberts, David Surles, Johnny Byrd and Ronny Denning (Daily Record July 8, 1981). Did you recognize that one of those classmates is mayor-pro tem of Coats in 2019?
The Coats Lions Club held its installation of officers at Wade’s Restaurant. The officers installed were President Fred Temple, First Vice President Earl Jones, Second Vice President M.T. Strickland, Third Vice President Ron Jenkins, Tail Twister Charlie Parker, Secretary-treasurer Cecil Stephenson, Lion tamer Daywood Langdon, and outgoing President Dudley Langdon. Through two softball tournaments and other fund-raising projects, the club had raised enough money in less than a year to pay off the loan to build the Little League ballpark in Coats (Daily Record July 14, 1981).
Miss Andrea Renee Currin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Currin of Coats, had been selected to represent Coats in the 1981 Miss North Carolina Charm Pageant at Meredith. The event was a preliminary to Americas’s Miss Charm Pageant in June, 1982 (Daily Record July 15, 1981).
Mrs. Willie W. Wood celebrated her 91st birthday at the Coats Community Center. It was a very special day for Mrs. Wood when a large crowd paid honor to her. Mrs. Pearl Wood Holland, Mrs. Grace Lewis, A.L. Wood, Sr., Mrs. Pauline Allen, and Mrs. Frances W. Stewart hosted the event (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
The date on the 1981 calendar was a reminder that it was time for the Ennis Reunion to be held at the American Legion in Benson (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
“Hello World” to newborn Mellissa Ann McLamb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Danny Keith McLamb, who was born in the Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville. Mr. and Mrs. D.J. McLamb and Mr. and Mrs. David Core were the grandparents (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
Rev. Ralph O. Byrd, after 38 years in the pulpit, had retired in June. The minister and farmer left a mark with his ministry (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
Funeral services were held for retired farmer Burnice Weaver, 61, of Route One, Coats who had died on Thursday. Services were held at Pleasant Memory and burial was in the Harnett Memorial Park. His survivors were his wife Ruby A. Weaver, a daughter- Mrs. Janell Johnson, and two sons-Sherlon and R.H. Holland (Daily Record July 20, 1981).
Death stayed around Coats and once again took a well known citizen of the Grove area. O Max Langdon, 51, of Route 2, Angier, had died on Saturday. Services were held at Overby-Johnson Funeral Home with burial in the Lakeside Memorial Gardens. Surviving him were his daughter- Mrs. Marilyn Phillips of Apex. Mrs. Fannie Sue (Ken) Johnson was his sister and Cecil E. Langdon was a brother. His father was Lexie Langdon and had died within the past year. Mrs. Mabel Barnes Langdon, his mother, also survived Max (Daily Record July 20, 1981).
Miss Donna Lynn Currin was to compete in the Miss N.C. Charm pageant at Meredith. She would represent Harnett County at Meredith College where she would join her sister Andrea who would compete in another of the five age decisions (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
The last flight from Erwin Airport was made as the wheels on Keith Finch’s twin engine blue and white Aztec left the ground at 10:45 AM and on the flight were Eugene Stewart of Coats, James Glover and Jackie Johnson along with Keith Finch (Daily Record July 22, 1981).
The museum folks enjoyed Mr. Finch’s visits to the museum as he shared his interest in history. When death takes our friends such as Eugene Stewart and Keith Finch, it brings a sense of sadness to us who have experienced the loss of so many senior citizens who helped make the museum what it was in its early stages of growth.
Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Hayes of Coats announced the birth of their son, William Henry, II on July 22 at BJMH. The mother was the former Ann Phillips (Daily Record July 24, 1981).
Again we read about the death of a Coats connected family. Luther Clarence Johnson, 95, had died on Tuesday at Johnston Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. He was the son of the late George Washington Johnson and Julia Parker Johnson. The retired farmer’s funeral services were in Rose Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Roselawn Cemetery. Survivors were his wife Mrs. Gertrude Langdon Johnson; his three sons-Graham, James Cleo and Sherrill C. Johnson; two daughters –Mrs. Laura L. Ennis and Mrs. Oliver Johnson; four stepsons- Thomas A. and R.H. Ellington and a stepdaughter, Mrs. Pauline Weaver (Daily Record July 30, 1981).
For the second successive season, Coats had won the Harnett County Junior League Baseball Championship. The team had 30 consecutive wins and no losses. Instrumental in helping establish the record were pitchers Terry Dibella and Mark Williams; catchers were Paul Capps and Gary Meadows and Infielders was Ronnie Tart and outfielder Mark Patterson. Thomas Strickland, Mark Hall, Timmy Lane, Mark Pope, and Lloyd Hayes were on the winning team (Daily Record Aug. 4, 1981).
Last Thursday was abuzz with activity-We had visitors from Bentonville and Goldsboro. Larry from Bentonville brought in a portrait with the name Burwell Coats written on the back. The pictured soldier is wearing his militia uniform. It is quite an interesting portrait and much history can be gleaned from items worn by the soldier. Come by the museum if you are connected to the Burwell Coats family. Possibly there is a reader who has collected pictures of soldiers of our earliest wars who can help Larry identify this militiaman. He has it on loan for one year.
We also enjoyed meeting Wayne Denning from Goldsboro. He spent several hours with us in the museum and then headed out to various Denning landmarks in the Coats area. We hope to add some of his additional Denning genealogy to ours in the Research Library.
There are so many items out in the Coats community that share information about early businesses in Coats. Betty Ellen Dixon dropped by to give us a promotional item from Luke’s. Remember that place? If you spent several minutes trying to guess what was inside the promotional gadget, you might be surprised at its contents.
Have you ever heard the old saying that the size of the ears tell if one is stingy or generous? I do know when one hears the names Patsy and Stacy Avery, the thought is what a Christian couple they are. I had a chance to be in Kiwanis Club with Patsy and was always amazed how supportive Stacy and Patsy were with all club projects. Their support of the Senior Center is well documented. If you follow the column, you have read over and over how they memorialize neighbors, friends and kin who had touched the lives of the Avery family. Stacy and Patsy are museum volunteers and faithfully serve as board members. Thank you, Patsy and Stacy, for your generous end of year donation to the museum. You have made a difference in the story of the Coats Museum.
The June 22, 1981 edition of the Daily Record shared that an outstanding young man from the Oak Dale area had died at age 42. Bobby Sherrill Howard had died on Saturday and was the son of Tinker and Gertha Howard. Surviving him were a son Dewayne Howard and a daughter, Miss Daisy Diane Howard. His siblings were Bill C. Howard, Jesse Ray Howard and Mrs. Lottie (Dot) Norris and Mrs. Arlene Allen.
Did you recognize that it was this family who purchased the Oakdale School in 1950? Mr. Tinker would later allow the old school to be used basically as a community center for club meetings, showers and fish fries. The building actually was used to store cured tobacco before it was prepared for market while other parts of it were used as apartments. Hence, when the Howard name was mentioned, there was much respect evidenced.
Good news was in that same edition of the Daily Record on the 22nd. Rebecca Lynn Sutton and Thomas Willis Coats exchanged wedding vows on June 14that the Divine Methodist Church in Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Leland A. Sutton and Mr. and Mrs. Sherrill T. Coats were parents of the couple.
Did you recognize that the groom had Thomas in his name? It is interesting to note that “Thomas” was significant in that his father Sherrill was son of Otis Coats who was son of William Henry Coats who was son of Founder Thomas Coats- who came from the Pleasant Grove area of Johnston County with his bride Isabella Turlington, daughter of Andrew Jackson and Brazilla Denning Turlington of the Troyville Barclaysville area- and purchased over seven hundred acres of land from the heirs of Daniel Shaw. Hence if we forward to 2019, we will learn that Tommy and Lynn’s son is the current Mayor Chris Coats.
Death visited and took Mrs. Katie Godwin Turner, 75, of Coats had died on Wednesday at the home of her son, Bill Turner, in Laurel, Maryland. She was the widow of Jarvis Hayden Turner. The funeral services were held at Cromartie-Pearsall-Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Coats Baptist Rev. Howard Beard officiating. Burial was in the Turner Family Cemetery. Her sons were Harold, Hayden, William G. (Bill), and Ray D. Turner. Mrs. Neva Tart was her sister (Daily Record June 26, 1981).
The Daily Record, July 3, 1981 edition shared that Mrs. Jean Pope Lamm of Coats had died on Thursday. Her services were held at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church with burial in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving Mrs. Lamm were her husband, Russell Lamm; a daughter, Liza Lamm Ennis; two sons, Andy and Russell Jay Lamm. She was sibling to Mrs. Willie Davis, Mrs. Mildred Wheeler, Mrs. Dot Ferrell, Mrs. Mrs. Therlene Rondini, Mrs. Becky Eger, Mrs. Grace Stewart, Edward, Bobby and Tommy Pope.
There are many familiar names in that Pope family-good athletes, good neighbors and good friends.
John Henry Dowdy, 77, of Hampstead, N.Y. had died on Saturday. He was formerly of Coats. Mrs. Ernestine Spears of Erwin was a sibling. Services were held at Pisgah Top Holy Church and burial was in the Murchinson Church Cemetery (Daily Record July 6, 1981).
Thankfully the next few issues of the Daily Record had covered more pleasant news. The class of 1966 from Coats High School had held their class reunion at Howard Johnson Restaurant in Dunn. Ronny Denning was master of ceremony. Class members who attended were Janet Norris Stephenson, Brenda Barefoot McGilvray, Paulette Byrd Ivey, Janet Carlson, Edwin Parker Gilbert, Sue Turlington Clayton, Hope Stewart Turlington, Carolyn Lockamy Tart, Becky Wilmoth Taylor, Jeanette Stewart Pleasant, Ruth Sorrell Williams, Carol Franklin Parries, Glenda Flowers McLeod, Charlotte Tart Allen, Charles Malone, Jerry Beasley, Don House, Dwight Roberts, David Surles, Johnny Byrd and Ronny Denning (Daily Record July 8, 1981). Did you recognize that one of those classmates is mayor-pro tem of Coats in 2019?
The Coats Lions Club held its installation of officers at Wade’s Restaurant. The officers installed were President Fred Temple, First Vice President Earl Jones, Second Vice President M.T. Strickland, Third Vice President Ron Jenkins, Tail Twister Charlie Parker, Secretary-treasurer Cecil Stephenson, Lion tamer Daywood Langdon, and outgoing President Dudley Langdon. Through two softball tournaments and other fund-raising projects, the club had raised enough money in less than a year to pay off the loan to build the Little League ballpark in Coats (Daily Record July 14, 1981).
Miss Andrea Renee Currin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Currin of Coats, had been selected to represent Coats in the 1981 Miss North Carolina Charm Pageant at Meredith. The event was a preliminary to Americas’s Miss Charm Pageant in June, 1982 (Daily Record July 15, 1981).
Mrs. Willie W. Wood celebrated her 91st birthday at the Coats Community Center. It was a very special day for Mrs. Wood when a large crowd paid honor to her. Mrs. Pearl Wood Holland, Mrs. Grace Lewis, A.L. Wood, Sr., Mrs. Pauline Allen, and Mrs. Frances W. Stewart hosted the event (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
The date on the 1981 calendar was a reminder that it was time for the Ennis Reunion to be held at the American Legion in Benson (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
“Hello World” to newborn Mellissa Ann McLamb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Danny Keith McLamb, who was born in the Cape Fear Valley Hospital in Fayetteville. Mr. and Mrs. D.J. McLamb and Mr. and Mrs. David Core were the grandparents (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
Rev. Ralph O. Byrd, after 38 years in the pulpit, had retired in June. The minister and farmer left a mark with his ministry (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
Funeral services were held for retired farmer Burnice Weaver, 61, of Route One, Coats who had died on Thursday. Services were held at Pleasant Memory and burial was in the Harnett Memorial Park. His survivors were his wife Ruby A. Weaver, a daughter- Mrs. Janell Johnson, and two sons-Sherlon and R.H. Holland (Daily Record July 20, 1981).
Death stayed around Coats and once again took a well known citizen of the Grove area. O Max Langdon, 51, of Route 2, Angier, had died on Saturday. Services were held at Overby-Johnson Funeral Home with burial in the Lakeside Memorial Gardens. Surviving him were his daughter- Mrs. Marilyn Phillips of Apex. Mrs. Fannie Sue (Ken) Johnson was his sister and Cecil E. Langdon was a brother. His father was Lexie Langdon and had died within the past year. Mrs. Mabel Barnes Langdon, his mother, also survived Max (Daily Record July 20, 1981).
Miss Donna Lynn Currin was to compete in the Miss N.C. Charm pageant at Meredith. She would represent Harnett County at Meredith College where she would join her sister Andrea who would compete in another of the five age decisions (Daily Record July 16, 1981).
The last flight from Erwin Airport was made as the wheels on Keith Finch’s twin engine blue and white Aztec left the ground at 10:45 AM and on the flight were Eugene Stewart of Coats, James Glover and Jackie Johnson along with Keith Finch (Daily Record July 22, 1981).
The museum folks enjoyed Mr. Finch’s visits to the museum as he shared his interest in history. When death takes our friends such as Eugene Stewart and Keith Finch, it brings a sense of sadness to us who have experienced the loss of so many senior citizens who helped make the museum what it was in its early stages of growth.
Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Hayes of Coats announced the birth of their son, William Henry, II on July 22 at BJMH. The mother was the former Ann Phillips (Daily Record July 24, 1981).
Again we read about the death of a Coats connected family. Luther Clarence Johnson, 95, had died on Tuesday at Johnston Memorial Hospital following an extended illness. He was the son of the late George Washington Johnson and Julia Parker Johnson. The retired farmer’s funeral services were in Rose Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Roselawn Cemetery. Survivors were his wife Mrs. Gertrude Langdon Johnson; his three sons-Graham, James Cleo and Sherrill C. Johnson; two daughters –Mrs. Laura L. Ennis and Mrs. Oliver Johnson; four stepsons- Thomas A. and R.H. Ellington and a stepdaughter, Mrs. Pauline Weaver (Daily Record July 30, 1981).
For the second successive season, Coats had won the Harnett County Junior League Baseball Championship. The team had 30 consecutive wins and no losses. Instrumental in helping establish the record were pitchers Terry Dibella and Mark Williams; catchers were Paul Capps and Gary Meadows and Infielders was Ronnie Tart and outfielder Mark Patterson. Thomas Strickland, Mark Hall, Timmy Lane, Mark Pope, and Lloyd Hayes were on the winning team (Daily Record Aug. 4, 1981).
Last Thursday was abuzz with activity-We had visitors from Bentonville and Goldsboro. Larry from Bentonville brought in a portrait with the name Burwell Coats written on the back. The pictured soldier is wearing his militia uniform. It is quite an interesting portrait and much history can be gleaned from items worn by the soldier. Come by the museum if you are connected to the Burwell Coats family. Possibly there is a reader who has collected pictures of soldiers of our earliest wars who can help Larry identify this militiaman. He has it on loan for one year.
We also enjoyed meeting Wayne Denning from Goldsboro. He spent several hours with us in the museum and then headed out to various Denning landmarks in the Coats area. We hope to add some of his additional Denning genealogy to ours in the Research Library.
There are so many items out in the Coats community that share information about early businesses in Coats. Betty Ellen Dixon dropped by to give us a promotional item from Luke’s. Remember that place? If you spent several minutes trying to guess what was inside the promotional gadget, you might be surprised at its contents.
Have you ever heard the old saying that the size of the ears tell if one is stingy or generous? I do know when one hears the names Patsy and Stacy Avery, the thought is what a Christian couple they are. I had a chance to be in Kiwanis Club with Patsy and was always amazed how supportive Stacy and Patsy were with all club projects. Their support of the Senior Center is well documented. If you follow the column, you have read over and over how they memorialize neighbors, friends and kin who had touched the lives of the Avery family. Stacy and Patsy are museum volunteers and faithfully serve as board members. Thank you, Patsy and Stacy, for your generous end of year donation to the museum. You have made a difference in the story of the Coats Museum.