February 16, 2024
Coats Museum News Belle Williams continued to inform all the Coats locals of what was happening in the community via her “Notes from Coats” in the Daily Record. She shared that Wanda Pollard’s Uncle Vernon Faircloth had expired. He was also brother-in-law to R.L. and Margaret Stewart.
On a brighter note she reported that Mark Pleasant, the talented singer and pianist from CFCA, had taken part in a devotional and offered an alter call and had seven students come forward. Mark was the son of J.L. and Della Norris Pleasant.
Many of you recognized the names of Mark’s parents. J.L. worked at Mack Holland’s furniture store in Benson and installed or delivered appliances and furniture to most of the houses in the Grove community. You could always depend on J.L. Della worked at the Coats Pharmacy for years and she too always had a smile for you when you went into the business.
I have two questions for you. Who were J.L.’s brothers who lived in or around Coats and who was Della’s first husband?
What does one have to do to be picked as Student of the Month at CCCC? I don’t think it is by the lottery system so surely Kimberly Lynn Pope was an outstanding young lady at the community college. If you don’t know Kimberly, possibly some readers may remember Neta S. Williams who was a former Coats community resident. News had reached Coats that Neta had died (Daily Record Feb. 24, 1994).
Another former Coats lady had died. This one we will recognize her relatives as still living here in 1994. Myrtle Massey Holiday had died in Bronx, NY. Helen M. Ray was her sister and Charlie Ray was her brother-in-law. Did Mr. Ray serve on the Coats School Advisory Board?
The community was shocked by the death of one of its younger citizens. Rita Johnson Pollard, 36, of Route One, Coats, a correctional officer, had died on Saturday. Her services were held at the Rose and Graham Funeral Chapel in Benson with burial in the Barnes Family Cemetery on Abattoir Road.
Lyle and Leigh Pollard survived their mother. She was also survived by her father, James Leon Johnson, Sr.; her mother and stepfather-Kay and Ronald Wiggins. Rita had three brothers-James Leon Johnson, Jr., Dennis and Michael Wiggins- and one sister Jackie Ward.
The Coats Lions Club recognized FFA week with a special semi-annual ladies night at Ron’s Barn. Mary Beth Kaneklides presented special music. The Lions Club made it first installment on a room dedicated to M.O. Phillips in the new Family and Convention Center at White Lake FFA Recreational Facility. Carsie Denning, Sr. was recognized and cited for his FFA Camp Family and Convention Center architectural designs and works (Daily Record Feb. 28, 1994).
One of the ten candidates seeking a seat in the 19th District N.C. State House spoke to a group of homeowners in Angier at the first forum held in the 1994 election year. Norfleet Gardner was one of the candidates (Daily Record Mar. 3, 1994).
Stacy and Clevene Walker announced the engagement of their daughter, Susan G. Walker, to Berjoe S. (B.J.) Occena of Rocky Mount. The bride-elect graduated in 1990 from the N.C. State University in electrical engineering. The groom also graduated with a similar degree in 1989. Both worked at the Consolidated Diesel Company in Rocky Mount (Daily Record Mar. 4, 1994).
Deidre Flowers was to wed Dennis Wade Avery. The grandmother of Deidre was Maxine Wilbourne. The Methodist Women met at the home of Peggie Pope. Marilyn Ennis presented the program. Belle reported that Jimmy Grimes had been certified as a CPA. Godfrey Beasley had entered Rex Hospital for a heart issues. Wilma Byrd of Coats had married Arthur Johnson at the Antioch Baptist Church in Falcon. Julie Wilkie and her family expressed thanks for the kindnesses shown to her family after the death of her father Lester Byrd (Daily Record Mar. 10, 1994).
The Coats Town Board decided to table a decision on painting the Coats water tank. It appeared that the inside of the tank was also painted with lead-based paint. Regular test had shown no lead leaching into the drinking water. The board voted to install new front windows on the town hall. B.W. Holland was approved to replace Claire Breeden on the town planning board (Daily Record Mar. 14, 1994).
Here’s a name you are familiar with-Albert Gregory. Albert was awarded the Albert Gregory Award for his contribution to the Harnett County Association of Retarded Citizens. Mack Reid Hudson, former Harnett County Commissioner, was on the program.
Adam Ennis and Steven Tart were standouts in the game of Coats Middle School versus Erwin Middle. Tart fanned out ten with his hard-throwing left arm (Daily Record Mar. 23, 1994). Did these young stars play baseball when they attended Triton High School?
This I do know. The only living direct descendant of Bill Dad Williams and Tabitha Williams had celebrated her 92nd birthday. Eula Byrd continued to live in her house that she and her late husband Willie Byrd had lived. She had reared four children. Edward, Bernice, and Ernestine Thornton were deceased but Willa Mae Byrd still lived in Coats (Daily Record Mar. 24, 1994).
Wonder how old Iva McCleod was when she celebrated her birthday with family, friends, balloons and flowers? The paper did not share this info but we know it appeared in the same Mar. 24, 1994 edition of the news as Mrs. Eula’s 92nd birthday event.
Two Coats tobacco farmers had returned from Aruba. Keith Parrish, president of the N.C. Tobacco Association, and Jeff Turlington, a member of the board of the same organization, attended the conference on pesticides (Daily Record Mar. 28, 1994).
Max Matthews and Norfleet Gardner were working hard on their political campaigns. Another hardworking man was Gene Love who worked with the Beacon Rescue Mission. Love began mission work about six years ago and had three missions-in Coats, Erwin and Dunn. The mission housed over 500 people a year and sent between 10,000 and 20,000 items of clothing to Africa a year. He told his audience at the Coats Senior Center that his missions were totally funded by churches.
Belle shared additional tidbits about Coats connected folks. A benefit was held for Corrie Martin, the young son of Toby and Kim Williams of Coats. Corrie had a rare disease called Alport’s Syndrome.
Hazel Barnes had a sister to visit her. Mary Lee Cudd celebrated with Hazel and friends. Who knows where Hazel and Mary Lee grew up? Mary Lee was not the only visitor in the Barnes house. Paige Daniel, granddaughter of Hazel and Thessie Daniel, visited in Coats and brought her friend from Germany with her. Paige’s parents were Drs. Richard and Janice Daniel.
Who remembers when the Bradford pears were planted in Coats? The CACC mulched and fertilized them according Chamber President Teddy Byrd. Linda Robinson reported that some of the boy scouts and girl scouts were also a great help.
Some people don’t live to be 62 but Mr. and Mrs. Earl Ragan lived long enough to celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary (Daily Record Mar. 31, 1994).
The Coats Museum folks are so excited about a Genealogy Workshop to be held on February 24th from 10 until noon at the museum. Professional Genealogist Robin Foster who is author of four genealogy books, co-founder and owner of www. genealogyjustask.com will share tips to those who attend the workshop on how to search and utilize the available resources to grow a collection of family history. Join us for the workshop which is free. Refreshments will be enjoyed following the workshop. The workshop will give attendees a chance to explore the massive collections of family histories in the Research Library of the museum. Mark your calendar-February 24th from 10:00 until 12:00 at the Coats Museum.
Coats Museum News Belle Williams continued to inform all the Coats locals of what was happening in the community via her “Notes from Coats” in the Daily Record. She shared that Wanda Pollard’s Uncle Vernon Faircloth had expired. He was also brother-in-law to R.L. and Margaret Stewart.
On a brighter note she reported that Mark Pleasant, the talented singer and pianist from CFCA, had taken part in a devotional and offered an alter call and had seven students come forward. Mark was the son of J.L. and Della Norris Pleasant.
Many of you recognized the names of Mark’s parents. J.L. worked at Mack Holland’s furniture store in Benson and installed or delivered appliances and furniture to most of the houses in the Grove community. You could always depend on J.L. Della worked at the Coats Pharmacy for years and she too always had a smile for you when you went into the business.
I have two questions for you. Who were J.L.’s brothers who lived in or around Coats and who was Della’s first husband?
What does one have to do to be picked as Student of the Month at CCCC? I don’t think it is by the lottery system so surely Kimberly Lynn Pope was an outstanding young lady at the community college. If you don’t know Kimberly, possibly some readers may remember Neta S. Williams who was a former Coats community resident. News had reached Coats that Neta had died (Daily Record Feb. 24, 1994).
Another former Coats lady had died. This one we will recognize her relatives as still living here in 1994. Myrtle Massey Holiday had died in Bronx, NY. Helen M. Ray was her sister and Charlie Ray was her brother-in-law. Did Mr. Ray serve on the Coats School Advisory Board?
The community was shocked by the death of one of its younger citizens. Rita Johnson Pollard, 36, of Route One, Coats, a correctional officer, had died on Saturday. Her services were held at the Rose and Graham Funeral Chapel in Benson with burial in the Barnes Family Cemetery on Abattoir Road.
Lyle and Leigh Pollard survived their mother. She was also survived by her father, James Leon Johnson, Sr.; her mother and stepfather-Kay and Ronald Wiggins. Rita had three brothers-James Leon Johnson, Jr., Dennis and Michael Wiggins- and one sister Jackie Ward.
The Coats Lions Club recognized FFA week with a special semi-annual ladies night at Ron’s Barn. Mary Beth Kaneklides presented special music. The Lions Club made it first installment on a room dedicated to M.O. Phillips in the new Family and Convention Center at White Lake FFA Recreational Facility. Carsie Denning, Sr. was recognized and cited for his FFA Camp Family and Convention Center architectural designs and works (Daily Record Feb. 28, 1994).
One of the ten candidates seeking a seat in the 19th District N.C. State House spoke to a group of homeowners in Angier at the first forum held in the 1994 election year. Norfleet Gardner was one of the candidates (Daily Record Mar. 3, 1994).
Stacy and Clevene Walker announced the engagement of their daughter, Susan G. Walker, to Berjoe S. (B.J.) Occena of Rocky Mount. The bride-elect graduated in 1990 from the N.C. State University in electrical engineering. The groom also graduated with a similar degree in 1989. Both worked at the Consolidated Diesel Company in Rocky Mount (Daily Record Mar. 4, 1994).
Deidre Flowers was to wed Dennis Wade Avery. The grandmother of Deidre was Maxine Wilbourne. The Methodist Women met at the home of Peggie Pope. Marilyn Ennis presented the program. Belle reported that Jimmy Grimes had been certified as a CPA. Godfrey Beasley had entered Rex Hospital for a heart issues. Wilma Byrd of Coats had married Arthur Johnson at the Antioch Baptist Church in Falcon. Julie Wilkie and her family expressed thanks for the kindnesses shown to her family after the death of her father Lester Byrd (Daily Record Mar. 10, 1994).
The Coats Town Board decided to table a decision on painting the Coats water tank. It appeared that the inside of the tank was also painted with lead-based paint. Regular test had shown no lead leaching into the drinking water. The board voted to install new front windows on the town hall. B.W. Holland was approved to replace Claire Breeden on the town planning board (Daily Record Mar. 14, 1994).
Here’s a name you are familiar with-Albert Gregory. Albert was awarded the Albert Gregory Award for his contribution to the Harnett County Association of Retarded Citizens. Mack Reid Hudson, former Harnett County Commissioner, was on the program.
Adam Ennis and Steven Tart were standouts in the game of Coats Middle School versus Erwin Middle. Tart fanned out ten with his hard-throwing left arm (Daily Record Mar. 23, 1994). Did these young stars play baseball when they attended Triton High School?
This I do know. The only living direct descendant of Bill Dad Williams and Tabitha Williams had celebrated her 92nd birthday. Eula Byrd continued to live in her house that she and her late husband Willie Byrd had lived. She had reared four children. Edward, Bernice, and Ernestine Thornton were deceased but Willa Mae Byrd still lived in Coats (Daily Record Mar. 24, 1994).
Wonder how old Iva McCleod was when she celebrated her birthday with family, friends, balloons and flowers? The paper did not share this info but we know it appeared in the same Mar. 24, 1994 edition of the news as Mrs. Eula’s 92nd birthday event.
Two Coats tobacco farmers had returned from Aruba. Keith Parrish, president of the N.C. Tobacco Association, and Jeff Turlington, a member of the board of the same organization, attended the conference on pesticides (Daily Record Mar. 28, 1994).
Max Matthews and Norfleet Gardner were working hard on their political campaigns. Another hardworking man was Gene Love who worked with the Beacon Rescue Mission. Love began mission work about six years ago and had three missions-in Coats, Erwin and Dunn. The mission housed over 500 people a year and sent between 10,000 and 20,000 items of clothing to Africa a year. He told his audience at the Coats Senior Center that his missions were totally funded by churches.
Belle shared additional tidbits about Coats connected folks. A benefit was held for Corrie Martin, the young son of Toby and Kim Williams of Coats. Corrie had a rare disease called Alport’s Syndrome.
Hazel Barnes had a sister to visit her. Mary Lee Cudd celebrated with Hazel and friends. Who knows where Hazel and Mary Lee grew up? Mary Lee was not the only visitor in the Barnes house. Paige Daniel, granddaughter of Hazel and Thessie Daniel, visited in Coats and brought her friend from Germany with her. Paige’s parents were Drs. Richard and Janice Daniel.
Who remembers when the Bradford pears were planted in Coats? The CACC mulched and fertilized them according Chamber President Teddy Byrd. Linda Robinson reported that some of the boy scouts and girl scouts were also a great help.
Some people don’t live to be 62 but Mr. and Mrs. Earl Ragan lived long enough to celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary (Daily Record Mar. 31, 1994).
The Coats Museum folks are so excited about a Genealogy Workshop to be held on February 24th from 10 until noon at the museum. Professional Genealogist Robin Foster who is author of four genealogy books, co-founder and owner of www. genealogyjustask.com will share tips to those who attend the workshop on how to search and utilize the available resources to grow a collection of family history. Join us for the workshop which is free. Refreshments will be enjoyed following the workshop. The workshop will give attendees a chance to explore the massive collections of family histories in the Research Library of the museum. Mark your calendar-February 24th from 10:00 until 12:00 at the Coats Museum.