February 15, 2019 Coats Museum News
The calendar displayed a new year-1975. This was the year in which two assassination attempts were made on President Gerald Ford. Mood rings-green for stability and purple for ecstasy, etc. - sold in the millions. The movie Jaws was a monster hit. The pet rock was an extraordinary novelty gift item. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band were popular. The U.S. unemployment rate reached 9.2 percent, the highest since 1941. The cost of a stamp for mailing a letter rose from ten cents to thirteen cents. For the first time in history, there were more than a million divorces a year in the U.S. (Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail. Massachusetts, Federal Street Press: 1999, pp 214-217).
Locally, the Coats Riding Club, which had been formed two years earlier, held a covered dish dinner and gave out awards. President Carl Williams was the major award winner for his outstanding work. Mrs. Barbara Williams was outstanding female and Bill Danger was outstanding male member. Ty Williams was “All Game” winner having accumulated the most point in shows during the past year (Daily Record Jan. 6, 1975).
Dr. Anne T. Moore, at Campbell since 1962, was made a full professor as director of the office of Educational Development of Campbell College. Carbine Williams was laid to rest with full military honors. Kathy Irene Turner and Walter Talmadge Weeks were married (Daily Record Jan. 13, 1975).
William (Bill) Norris, 68, of Coats had died on Friday. His wife, Mrs. Dola Hudson Norris, survived him. His children were Mrs. Ruth Waddell, Mrs. Pat Francisco, Billy C. Norris, and Bobby Norris. His sisters were Mrs. Esther Johnson, Mrs. Muriel Daniel, Mrs. Margie Brewer, Mrs. Ava Peacock and Mrs. Alda Grimes (Daily Record Jan. 20, 1975).
H.L. Sorrell, Jr., Coordinator of Driver Education and Traffic Safety in Harnett County, announced the 3rd of 4 sessions to be taught at Erwin, Benhaven and Lafayette Schools. Willis A. Cobb, 78, of Coats had died on Tuesday. He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Esther Adams Cobb; three daughters –Mrs. Clara Barbour, Mrs. Lila Adams, and Mrs. Ruth Upchurch and one son, Algie Cobb. His two sisters were Mrs. Callie Pollard and Mrs. Ada Sears and Brant Cobb was a brother (Daily Record Jan. 22, 1975).
Two of her amazing daughters, Clara and Ruth, continue to be well and live in the Coats area. Ruth worked very diligently to help the museum folks identify the older houses in Coats and Clara’s talent for making beautiful home furnishings with fabric can be found in many of the homes throughout Johnston and Harnett Counties.
An engagement announcement was made by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ammons of Coats. Rita Ammons was to marry Wayne Alfred Coats (Daily Record Jan. 31, 1975).
Mrs. Louise Senter Jackson announced the engagement of Regina Ann Jackson to Joseph Allen Powell of Raleigh. The Tri-Tones (Doug Dennis, Patti Dennis, Roger Stephenson, Hubert Dennis and Danny Pleasant) performed at Lee’s Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Benny Ray Byrd announced the birth of a daughter, Becky Jo Byrd, in the Betsy Johnson Hospital (Daily Record Feb. 6, 1975). Did Glenn Dennis not play with the band?
Births, deaths, engagements, and weddings continue into 1975. A March 30th wedding was planned for Osha Belva Bradley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Bradley of Coats. Donald Glenn Lucas of Erwin was the groom-to-be (Daily Record Feb. 12, 1975).
David Boyd Williams, 53, of Coats had died on Wednesday and his services were held at Rose Funeral Home in Coats with burial in the Williams Cemetery. Rev. R. O. Byrd officiated. His widow was Golda Norris Williams; his three children were Mrs. Aldine Jones, Mrs. Marie Hall and Donnie Williams. His siblings were Mrs. Esther Stone, Mrs. Dora Denning, Mrs. Eunice Morgan, Dennis Williams, Tebo Williams, Allie Williams, and Lee Williams (Daily Record Feb. 13, 1975).
Question-does one have to be a Williams to be buried in the Williams Cemetery? I do know that the needs of the town were addressed at the town meeting of the Coats Commissioners. J.D. Norris stated that Coats was the only municipality without a magistrate. The board agreed to request legislation to introduce two additional magistrates-one for Coats.
The federal funding under the 1974 Community Development Act was considered. A $25,000 state water grant was to be spent on water producing equipment and a well. More space was granted to the Coats Library. The Federal Emergency Job Act which gave the town $10, 306.65 was to be spent to paint and help clean up the town (Daily Record Feb. 14, 1975).
A wedding was announced for a popular Coats girl. Mr. and Mrs. William Leslie Parnell announced the engagement of Jo Ann Parnell, to Ricky Robert Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weaver of Dunn, Route 3. Jo Ann worked with CPL and Ricky was a senior at UNC Chapel Hill.
Did you recognize that one of these families lost a son in Vietnam and the other family has deep roots in the Turlington family in Coats?
A death announcement also appeared in the same February 19, 1975 edition of the Daily Record. Gordon Allen Godwin, 43, of Coats, had died on Monday. His services were at Pope’s Chapel Church. Burial was at Spring Branch Church Cemetery. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Betty Bass Godwin; his ten siblings: C.J., Bobby, Jimmy, Thomas, Mrs. Aaron Pope, Mrs. Charlie Stewart, Mrs. W.R. Beasley, and Mrs. Gardner Moore. Who are the other two siblings and were there ten?
If you have been reading the “Coats Museum News” column since 2009, and if I asked you to give a family name that appeared over and over in the column, would the name Stewart pop into your thoughts? I do know that the Stewarts have been outstanding folks in the Grove Township area right up to now. On Saturday, February 15, 1975, Latta Vernon Stewart, a son of Julia Bailey Stewart and Claud Daniel Stewart (the first principal of Grove #3 Coats School) had celebrated his golden anniversary. Latta and Florrie Stewart invited people into their home. Florrie was the daughter of Charles R. Stewart and Leona Kennedy Stewart. The couple had honeymooned to Wilson and Raleigh in their 1923 T-Model Ford Roadster (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1975).
Some other interesting facts about Latta and Florrie are that they are the parents of Dorothea Stewart Gilbert. Dorothea retired as an English professor at Campbell University. Dorothea gave the principal’s desk of her grandfather Claud Stewart to the Coats Museum’s Education Exhibit.
The Coats Woman’s Club had held its February meeting at the Coats Baptist Church. The program was an Arts and Crafts Show. The winner in the Coats Club would compete in the District 9 Festival. Mrs. Florine Penny, Mrs. Jean Smith, and Mrs. Betty Pleasant were judges. Mrs. Ray West, Mrs. Robert Odum and Mrs. Lamar McCarrell were the hostesses. Catherine King and Mrs. George Johnson were guests. Mrs. Herbert L. Johnson reported that the community center project would cost $2,500 with $ 1,000 on hand. Other business included a commitment to contribute to the center project and to make the Family Life Award permanent (Daily Record Mar. 3, 1975).
Mahlon Parker was hired by the Coats Town Board of Commissioners to work as town manager. Randy Cook was hired with the police department and Charles Walden with the maintenance department. Tony Mascia and Steve Skidmore, both had resigned, were replaced by Joe Odum and Bill Haywood (Daily Record Mar. 5, 1975).
Mrs. Alma Grimes of Benson celebrated her 90th birthday with five generations (Daily Record Mar. 10, 1975).
Mrs. Max Matthews had received a plaque for her outstanding 4-H leadership in 1974 from Robert Rowland, Assistant Extension Agent for 4-H (Daily Record Mar. 11, 1975).
Ron Peters, Chief of Police in Coats, was presented a professional degree in law enforcement in a ceremony conducted by Mayor Ronald Coats (Daily Record Mar. 13, 1975).
A talkathon for the benefit of the Coats Rescue Squad was to be presented over radio station WPYB Benson. The goal was $6,000.
Surely those of you who have stayed with me on this paper travel into yesteryear have become aware of how much the Coats community has always stepped up to support projects via fundraisers to make the community a better place for its citizens to live. One has to wonder what would have happened, or not have, if the community-minded citizens had not dared to become involved in the needs of the community.
The time had come when many of the past projects were in need of revitalization in 1975. One such project was the late 1940’s Community Building. A bake sale was to be held by the Woman’s Club to remodel the building. Residents were asked to donate baked items. Mrs. John Wolf was one of the trustees working with the project (Daily Record Mar. 13, 1975).
We recently had a visit from Vanessa Rowland and her cousin Harvey Edwards. They were so excited to see all the pictures of their family on our Pacesetters Wall. Vanessa’s grandfather, father and mother served on Coats Board of Education. We welcome Vanessa back to the Coats area and look forward to another visit from both.
Many students who attended Coats after the 1960’s will remember Delores Royals who taught in the elementary school as a classroom teacher and later as a reading specialist who was recognized by her coworkers as a Teacher of the Year. Delores and the late Edgar Royals are parents of Patricia Royals who was the top student in her graduating class at Coats. When the museum volunteers were seeking the names and pictures of military veterans for our Defenders of the Red, White and Blue veterans’ book, Delores stepped up and added pictures and records of her husband and many Avery veterans. Thank you, Delores, for your continued support of the projects at the museum and, most recently, for your generous donation to help operate the Coats Museum.
The calendar displayed a new year-1975. This was the year in which two assassination attempts were made on President Gerald Ford. Mood rings-green for stability and purple for ecstasy, etc. - sold in the millions. The movie Jaws was a monster hit. The pet rock was an extraordinary novelty gift item. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band were popular. The U.S. unemployment rate reached 9.2 percent, the highest since 1941. The cost of a stamp for mailing a letter rose from ten cents to thirteen cents. For the first time in history, there were more than a million divorces a year in the U.S. (Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail. Massachusetts, Federal Street Press: 1999, pp 214-217).
Locally, the Coats Riding Club, which had been formed two years earlier, held a covered dish dinner and gave out awards. President Carl Williams was the major award winner for his outstanding work. Mrs. Barbara Williams was outstanding female and Bill Danger was outstanding male member. Ty Williams was “All Game” winner having accumulated the most point in shows during the past year (Daily Record Jan. 6, 1975).
Dr. Anne T. Moore, at Campbell since 1962, was made a full professor as director of the office of Educational Development of Campbell College. Carbine Williams was laid to rest with full military honors. Kathy Irene Turner and Walter Talmadge Weeks were married (Daily Record Jan. 13, 1975).
William (Bill) Norris, 68, of Coats had died on Friday. His wife, Mrs. Dola Hudson Norris, survived him. His children were Mrs. Ruth Waddell, Mrs. Pat Francisco, Billy C. Norris, and Bobby Norris. His sisters were Mrs. Esther Johnson, Mrs. Muriel Daniel, Mrs. Margie Brewer, Mrs. Ava Peacock and Mrs. Alda Grimes (Daily Record Jan. 20, 1975).
H.L. Sorrell, Jr., Coordinator of Driver Education and Traffic Safety in Harnett County, announced the 3rd of 4 sessions to be taught at Erwin, Benhaven and Lafayette Schools. Willis A. Cobb, 78, of Coats had died on Tuesday. He was survived by his widow, Mrs. Esther Adams Cobb; three daughters –Mrs. Clara Barbour, Mrs. Lila Adams, and Mrs. Ruth Upchurch and one son, Algie Cobb. His two sisters were Mrs. Callie Pollard and Mrs. Ada Sears and Brant Cobb was a brother (Daily Record Jan. 22, 1975).
Two of her amazing daughters, Clara and Ruth, continue to be well and live in the Coats area. Ruth worked very diligently to help the museum folks identify the older houses in Coats and Clara’s talent for making beautiful home furnishings with fabric can be found in many of the homes throughout Johnston and Harnett Counties.
An engagement announcement was made by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ammons of Coats. Rita Ammons was to marry Wayne Alfred Coats (Daily Record Jan. 31, 1975).
Mrs. Louise Senter Jackson announced the engagement of Regina Ann Jackson to Joseph Allen Powell of Raleigh. The Tri-Tones (Doug Dennis, Patti Dennis, Roger Stephenson, Hubert Dennis and Danny Pleasant) performed at Lee’s Grove. Mr. and Mrs. Benny Ray Byrd announced the birth of a daughter, Becky Jo Byrd, in the Betsy Johnson Hospital (Daily Record Feb. 6, 1975). Did Glenn Dennis not play with the band?
Births, deaths, engagements, and weddings continue into 1975. A March 30th wedding was planned for Osha Belva Bradley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Bradley of Coats. Donald Glenn Lucas of Erwin was the groom-to-be (Daily Record Feb. 12, 1975).
David Boyd Williams, 53, of Coats had died on Wednesday and his services were held at Rose Funeral Home in Coats with burial in the Williams Cemetery. Rev. R. O. Byrd officiated. His widow was Golda Norris Williams; his three children were Mrs. Aldine Jones, Mrs. Marie Hall and Donnie Williams. His siblings were Mrs. Esther Stone, Mrs. Dora Denning, Mrs. Eunice Morgan, Dennis Williams, Tebo Williams, Allie Williams, and Lee Williams (Daily Record Feb. 13, 1975).
Question-does one have to be a Williams to be buried in the Williams Cemetery? I do know that the needs of the town were addressed at the town meeting of the Coats Commissioners. J.D. Norris stated that Coats was the only municipality without a magistrate. The board agreed to request legislation to introduce two additional magistrates-one for Coats.
The federal funding under the 1974 Community Development Act was considered. A $25,000 state water grant was to be spent on water producing equipment and a well. More space was granted to the Coats Library. The Federal Emergency Job Act which gave the town $10, 306.65 was to be spent to paint and help clean up the town (Daily Record Feb. 14, 1975).
A wedding was announced for a popular Coats girl. Mr. and Mrs. William Leslie Parnell announced the engagement of Jo Ann Parnell, to Ricky Robert Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weaver of Dunn, Route 3. Jo Ann worked with CPL and Ricky was a senior at UNC Chapel Hill.
Did you recognize that one of these families lost a son in Vietnam and the other family has deep roots in the Turlington family in Coats?
A death announcement also appeared in the same February 19, 1975 edition of the Daily Record. Gordon Allen Godwin, 43, of Coats, had died on Monday. His services were at Pope’s Chapel Church. Burial was at Spring Branch Church Cemetery. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Betty Bass Godwin; his ten siblings: C.J., Bobby, Jimmy, Thomas, Mrs. Aaron Pope, Mrs. Charlie Stewart, Mrs. W.R. Beasley, and Mrs. Gardner Moore. Who are the other two siblings and were there ten?
If you have been reading the “Coats Museum News” column since 2009, and if I asked you to give a family name that appeared over and over in the column, would the name Stewart pop into your thoughts? I do know that the Stewarts have been outstanding folks in the Grove Township area right up to now. On Saturday, February 15, 1975, Latta Vernon Stewart, a son of Julia Bailey Stewart and Claud Daniel Stewart (the first principal of Grove #3 Coats School) had celebrated his golden anniversary. Latta and Florrie Stewart invited people into their home. Florrie was the daughter of Charles R. Stewart and Leona Kennedy Stewart. The couple had honeymooned to Wilson and Raleigh in their 1923 T-Model Ford Roadster (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1975).
Some other interesting facts about Latta and Florrie are that they are the parents of Dorothea Stewart Gilbert. Dorothea retired as an English professor at Campbell University. Dorothea gave the principal’s desk of her grandfather Claud Stewart to the Coats Museum’s Education Exhibit.
The Coats Woman’s Club had held its February meeting at the Coats Baptist Church. The program was an Arts and Crafts Show. The winner in the Coats Club would compete in the District 9 Festival. Mrs. Florine Penny, Mrs. Jean Smith, and Mrs. Betty Pleasant were judges. Mrs. Ray West, Mrs. Robert Odum and Mrs. Lamar McCarrell were the hostesses. Catherine King and Mrs. George Johnson were guests. Mrs. Herbert L. Johnson reported that the community center project would cost $2,500 with $ 1,000 on hand. Other business included a commitment to contribute to the center project and to make the Family Life Award permanent (Daily Record Mar. 3, 1975).
Mahlon Parker was hired by the Coats Town Board of Commissioners to work as town manager. Randy Cook was hired with the police department and Charles Walden with the maintenance department. Tony Mascia and Steve Skidmore, both had resigned, were replaced by Joe Odum and Bill Haywood (Daily Record Mar. 5, 1975).
Mrs. Alma Grimes of Benson celebrated her 90th birthday with five generations (Daily Record Mar. 10, 1975).
Mrs. Max Matthews had received a plaque for her outstanding 4-H leadership in 1974 from Robert Rowland, Assistant Extension Agent for 4-H (Daily Record Mar. 11, 1975).
Ron Peters, Chief of Police in Coats, was presented a professional degree in law enforcement in a ceremony conducted by Mayor Ronald Coats (Daily Record Mar. 13, 1975).
A talkathon for the benefit of the Coats Rescue Squad was to be presented over radio station WPYB Benson. The goal was $6,000.
Surely those of you who have stayed with me on this paper travel into yesteryear have become aware of how much the Coats community has always stepped up to support projects via fundraisers to make the community a better place for its citizens to live. One has to wonder what would have happened, or not have, if the community-minded citizens had not dared to become involved in the needs of the community.
The time had come when many of the past projects were in need of revitalization in 1975. One such project was the late 1940’s Community Building. A bake sale was to be held by the Woman’s Club to remodel the building. Residents were asked to donate baked items. Mrs. John Wolf was one of the trustees working with the project (Daily Record Mar. 13, 1975).
We recently had a visit from Vanessa Rowland and her cousin Harvey Edwards. They were so excited to see all the pictures of their family on our Pacesetters Wall. Vanessa’s grandfather, father and mother served on Coats Board of Education. We welcome Vanessa back to the Coats area and look forward to another visit from both.
Many students who attended Coats after the 1960’s will remember Delores Royals who taught in the elementary school as a classroom teacher and later as a reading specialist who was recognized by her coworkers as a Teacher of the Year. Delores and the late Edgar Royals are parents of Patricia Royals who was the top student in her graduating class at Coats. When the museum volunteers were seeking the names and pictures of military veterans for our Defenders of the Red, White and Blue veterans’ book, Delores stepped up and added pictures and records of her husband and many Avery veterans. Thank you, Delores, for your continued support of the projects at the museum and, most recently, for your generous donation to help operate the Coats Museum.