December 8, 2023 Coats Museum News
The month was October of 1993 and several events were recorded in history. Natalie Jean Lucas and Ronald Jeremy Byrd had exchanged vows during the 25th candlelight ceremony. The father of the groom, Rev. Ronnie Byrd, and the grandfather Rev. Ralph O. Byrd, officiated during the ceremony (Daily Record Oct 1, 1993).
Not to be outdone, death came to Coats and took Sarah Ellis Norris, 79. She had died at GHH on Friday. Her services were at the Red Hill PFB Church with The Rev. Billy Smith, Jimmy Tripp and Fred Pleasant officiating. Burial was in the Banner Chapel Cemetery. Survivors were her daughter, Ruth Pleasant, and her son, Wayne West. Her siblings were Myrtle Smith, Wilma Messer, Rosa Lee Jackson, Patricia Faircloth and Jarvis Norris (Daily Record Oct. 4. 1993).
Folks in Coats and elsewhere were hitching up their wagons to join others in the Farmers Day events in Coats. The Pig Cook-off contest, street dances, the street booths, and the street entertainment were on schedule for the 81st celebration.
Another event also was to occur in Coats. The 19th annual Fireman’s Day was to be held there. Fire Departments from across Harnett County would meet in the Coats Middle School to compete in four events (Daily Record Oct. 6, 1993).
Who remembers hearing the name Tommy Byrne? Wasn’t he the outstanding baseball player for the New York Yankees? In fact we had his glove and baseball on display in our museum for a while. He was the son- in- law of Eva and W. E. Nichols. M.O. and Kathryn Phillips were weekend guests of Mary Sue and Tommy Byrne at Bald Head Island. She was the daughter of the late W.E. and Eva Nichols (Daily Record Oct. 7, 1993).
H.A. and Rachael Turlington attended the 25th wedding anniversary of their daughter Laura and Tommy Denning in Charlotte. They are parents of three sons-Freddy, Michael and Stephen. Tommy worked as a CPA in the business department at the Presbyterian Hospital while Laura worked with the Mecklenburg School System.
Sherrill U. Creech, 75, of Benson had died on Friday. He was husband to Christine Ennis Creech (Daily Record Oct.11, 1993).
Amanda Helen Dixon, the current 1993 Miss Coats, will give up her crown to one of the young ladies vying for the title of Miss Coats. The contestants were seventeen-year old Kristena Lynn Barefoot, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Barefoot; Nichole Blackman, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eddy Blackman and Misty Michelle Jenkins, 16, daughter of Bob and Charla Jenkins were other contestants. Brandy Nicole Powell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jackie Akers; and Amy Lee Tyndall, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Tyndall (Daily Record Oct. 14. 1993).
Who were the big winners of the Farmers Day cook off? Cecil Stephenson (1st), Mark Byrd (2nd) and Greg Stevens (3rd) shared the honors.
Belle’s Notes from Coats wrote that Sandy Langdon had been named the Outstanding Farmer of the Year by the Phillip Morris Tobacco Company. Pleasant Memory Baptist Church had celebrated its 50th anniversary with Rev. Chris Wroten as speaker. Belle also recorded that Becky Upchurch was the setting for the first meeting of the year of the Coats Woman’s Club. The house was set up for dinging with round tables in the dining and sun rooms. Laura Langdon presided and Juanita Hudson was secretary. Christine Parrish, Ann Jones, Elizabeth Hudson, Jerry Honeycutt, and Gayle Sorrell were to serve as hostesses of the judges for the Miss Coats pageant.
Wonder how many students from the Coats School area have been awarded the John Motley Morehead Foundation Scholarship? I do know that Chris Ennis, son of Carletta and Don Ennis of Coats, was one of those three from Triton to compete. Chris was active in baseball, soccer, Beta Club, HOBY and many other extracurricular activities (Daily Record Oct. 14, 1993).
Good news came from the Coats Town Board. They were going to support the water sewer bond referendum that would provide $ 145 million in low interest bonds for the water sewer projects. The board agreed that if the referendum passed, it would help economic development in Coats (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1993).
Now we know who won the Miss Coats title for 1994. Nikki Blackman was crowned Miss Coats. Lori Stewart was picked Junior Miss Coats and Allison Matthews was voted little Miss Coats (Daily Record Oct. 18, 1993).
James Carlie McLamb, 83, of Route 1, Coats, had died on Sunday, at GHH. He was son of the late John G. and Ida Moore McLamb of Johnston County. His service was held in the Coats Baptist Church with the Revs. Jesse Mooney and Ronnie Byrd officiated. Burial was in the Lakeview Gardens. Surviving the retired farmer were his wife Agatha Whittington McLamb; a daughter Patty Styons and three sons-Leon, Ronald and Danny (Daily Record Oct. 18, 1993). I bet you recognize those survivors.
Who remembers Joe Byrd? He has so much talent but in 1993 he appeared in the paper because his engagement to Bonnie Eason. A Nov. 14th wedding was planned at the Antioch Baptist Church (Daily Record Oct.19, 1993).
Another wedding anniversary was celebrated in the Coats area. Clyde and Iva McLeod welcomed friends to the Coats Senior Center. Sherry Riddle and Sue Ivey, daughters of the couple, planned the event that was enhanced by stories by Peggy Brown, director of the center.
Mary Langdon made a trip to Richmond, Va. to attend her granddaughter’s wedding of Patrick Martin and Candace Langdon who was daughter of the late Dr. William Langdon and Ruth Anna Langdon of Richmond.
How does one thank the so many volunteers and supporters who came out to our first Christmas Party on the Square? It brought tears to my eyes as the dozens filed through the museum to enjoy the food, tours and fellowship of those who have helped make the Coats Museum an amazing place to visit and learn of our small town’s heritage.
If H.L. was able to get a peep of what went on at the party last Saturday, I am sure there would be a sparkle in those big brown eyes.
The month was October of 1993 and several events were recorded in history. Natalie Jean Lucas and Ronald Jeremy Byrd had exchanged vows during the 25th candlelight ceremony. The father of the groom, Rev. Ronnie Byrd, and the grandfather Rev. Ralph O. Byrd, officiated during the ceremony (Daily Record Oct 1, 1993).
Not to be outdone, death came to Coats and took Sarah Ellis Norris, 79. She had died at GHH on Friday. Her services were at the Red Hill PFB Church with The Rev. Billy Smith, Jimmy Tripp and Fred Pleasant officiating. Burial was in the Banner Chapel Cemetery. Survivors were her daughter, Ruth Pleasant, and her son, Wayne West. Her siblings were Myrtle Smith, Wilma Messer, Rosa Lee Jackson, Patricia Faircloth and Jarvis Norris (Daily Record Oct. 4. 1993).
Folks in Coats and elsewhere were hitching up their wagons to join others in the Farmers Day events in Coats. The Pig Cook-off contest, street dances, the street booths, and the street entertainment were on schedule for the 81st celebration.
Another event also was to occur in Coats. The 19th annual Fireman’s Day was to be held there. Fire Departments from across Harnett County would meet in the Coats Middle School to compete in four events (Daily Record Oct. 6, 1993).
Who remembers hearing the name Tommy Byrne? Wasn’t he the outstanding baseball player for the New York Yankees? In fact we had his glove and baseball on display in our museum for a while. He was the son- in- law of Eva and W. E. Nichols. M.O. and Kathryn Phillips were weekend guests of Mary Sue and Tommy Byrne at Bald Head Island. She was the daughter of the late W.E. and Eva Nichols (Daily Record Oct. 7, 1993).
H.A. and Rachael Turlington attended the 25th wedding anniversary of their daughter Laura and Tommy Denning in Charlotte. They are parents of three sons-Freddy, Michael and Stephen. Tommy worked as a CPA in the business department at the Presbyterian Hospital while Laura worked with the Mecklenburg School System.
Sherrill U. Creech, 75, of Benson had died on Friday. He was husband to Christine Ennis Creech (Daily Record Oct.11, 1993).
Amanda Helen Dixon, the current 1993 Miss Coats, will give up her crown to one of the young ladies vying for the title of Miss Coats. The contestants were seventeen-year old Kristena Lynn Barefoot, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Barefoot; Nichole Blackman, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eddy Blackman and Misty Michelle Jenkins, 16, daughter of Bob and Charla Jenkins were other contestants. Brandy Nicole Powell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jackie Akers; and Amy Lee Tyndall, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Tyndall (Daily Record Oct. 14. 1993).
Who were the big winners of the Farmers Day cook off? Cecil Stephenson (1st), Mark Byrd (2nd) and Greg Stevens (3rd) shared the honors.
Belle’s Notes from Coats wrote that Sandy Langdon had been named the Outstanding Farmer of the Year by the Phillip Morris Tobacco Company. Pleasant Memory Baptist Church had celebrated its 50th anniversary with Rev. Chris Wroten as speaker. Belle also recorded that Becky Upchurch was the setting for the first meeting of the year of the Coats Woman’s Club. The house was set up for dinging with round tables in the dining and sun rooms. Laura Langdon presided and Juanita Hudson was secretary. Christine Parrish, Ann Jones, Elizabeth Hudson, Jerry Honeycutt, and Gayle Sorrell were to serve as hostesses of the judges for the Miss Coats pageant.
Wonder how many students from the Coats School area have been awarded the John Motley Morehead Foundation Scholarship? I do know that Chris Ennis, son of Carletta and Don Ennis of Coats, was one of those three from Triton to compete. Chris was active in baseball, soccer, Beta Club, HOBY and many other extracurricular activities (Daily Record Oct. 14, 1993).
Good news came from the Coats Town Board. They were going to support the water sewer bond referendum that would provide $ 145 million in low interest bonds for the water sewer projects. The board agreed that if the referendum passed, it would help economic development in Coats (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1993).
Now we know who won the Miss Coats title for 1994. Nikki Blackman was crowned Miss Coats. Lori Stewart was picked Junior Miss Coats and Allison Matthews was voted little Miss Coats (Daily Record Oct. 18, 1993).
James Carlie McLamb, 83, of Route 1, Coats, had died on Sunday, at GHH. He was son of the late John G. and Ida Moore McLamb of Johnston County. His service was held in the Coats Baptist Church with the Revs. Jesse Mooney and Ronnie Byrd officiated. Burial was in the Lakeview Gardens. Surviving the retired farmer were his wife Agatha Whittington McLamb; a daughter Patty Styons and three sons-Leon, Ronald and Danny (Daily Record Oct. 18, 1993). I bet you recognize those survivors.
Who remembers Joe Byrd? He has so much talent but in 1993 he appeared in the paper because his engagement to Bonnie Eason. A Nov. 14th wedding was planned at the Antioch Baptist Church (Daily Record Oct.19, 1993).
Another wedding anniversary was celebrated in the Coats area. Clyde and Iva McLeod welcomed friends to the Coats Senior Center. Sherry Riddle and Sue Ivey, daughters of the couple, planned the event that was enhanced by stories by Peggy Brown, director of the center.
Mary Langdon made a trip to Richmond, Va. to attend her granddaughter’s wedding of Patrick Martin and Candace Langdon who was daughter of the late Dr. William Langdon and Ruth Anna Langdon of Richmond.
How does one thank the so many volunteers and supporters who came out to our first Christmas Party on the Square? It brought tears to my eyes as the dozens filed through the museum to enjoy the food, tours and fellowship of those who have helped make the Coats Museum an amazing place to visit and learn of our small town’s heritage.
If H.L. was able to get a peep of what went on at the party last Saturday, I am sure there would be a sparkle in those big brown eyes.