February 2, 2024 Coats Museum News
The date on the Daily Record in which you are reading this column is February 2, 2024 whereas the column news in this article occurred in February of 1994. The readers discovered that little three year old James Britt Beasley had a birthday party given by his parents Tony and Sandy Carroll Beasley. The “Barney” party was attended by his grandparents-Linwood and Becky Norris Carroll.
Death news was also read by the subscribers of the paper. Death had taken Josephine Glover Stone of Coats on Tuesday at the GHH in Erwin. She was the daughter of Willie Joe Glover and Callie Moore Glover. Her services were held at the Price Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Jesse Mooney. She was survived by two sons-W.C. and Keith Stone of Coats (Daily Record Feb. 9, 1994).
In Belle’s “Notes”, she reminded her readers that there were lots of Coats folks who needed prayers and visits due to sicknesses. Baxton Pollard had returned home after a ten day stay at the UNC Memorial Hospital. His faithful wife Wanda stayed at his side the entire ten days.
Holly Moore, daughter of Carolyn Moore, had a terrible case of chicken pox. Tony Upchurch was doing well after eye surgery. Janie Denning and Keith Stewart were home after surgery. Liza Shearin had fallen at school and broken her ankle.
Read the list that Belle mentioned as being shut-ins and see if you recognize so many of the names. That was thirty years ago so we know most of those mentioned are dead but there is also the possibility that many of the readers of her notes are likewise. She asked that the following be remembered: Tom and Pearl Tart, Lois Ivey, Ellie Byrd, Clyde Stone, McRay and Louine Stewart, Vic McLeod, Edna Ennis, Carlie Spivey, Rudolph Williams, Billy Ray Ennis, Blanche Gregory, Woodrow Langdon, Mary Gregory and Ralph Byrd.
The ladies at the Coats Methodist Church were very faithful to their meetings and church work. Judy Williams hosted the meeting at her home where Ruby Johnson presented an interesting program entitled “Lydia”. Carolyn Tart presided. Minutes were read by secretary Ruby Johnson and Helen Lockamy gave the treasurer’s report. A fundraiser bake sale was scheduled to be held at the IGA and funds were to be used to install carpet in two classrooms at the church.
Refreshments were served by Judy to those who attended-Ellen Metcalf, Sue Penny, Mary Forrest, Carolyn Tart, Angela Stone, Evelyn Roberts, Ruby Johnson, Edna Lockamy, Peggie Pope, Connie Penny, and Carolyn Barnes. Vickie Gregory was a new member (Daily Record Feb, 10, 1994).
Death marked off one of the names on Belle’s list to visit or to offer a prayer. Lois Roberts Ivey, 71, of Coats had died on Tuesday at her home after an extended illness. She was born of September 23, 1922, in Harnett County to the late John C. Roberts and Ludella Spivey Roberts. Lois was retired from the Erwin Mills. Funeral services were at the Coats Baptist Church by the Rev. Jesse Mooney. Burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Mrs. Ivey was survived by her husband Charles Ivey, her son Charles Ivey, Jr.; two daughters Joan Patterson and Carletta Ennis. Her siblings were Beatrice Pennington, Milton and Roy Roberts.
Mary Jo Mann is a name that has gone down in the education journals of Harnett County. After graduating from Coats High School in 1949, she headed off to East Carolina College where she earned her degree in Primary Education. She would return to teach at Coats School where not only did she teach in the primary department but also she would help coach the girl’s basketball team. She would continue her education which led to a supervisor’s role in the central office in Lillington. Until her retirement, she would devote her career to improving the opportunities for better instruction by the teachers who taught in Kindergarten-3 settings.
However in 1994, she would devote countless hours working to make the Coats Woman’s Club a club in which local women wanted to be a member. In the February meeting, Mary Jo was hostess of the meeting at her country home-Quail Acres. Linda Cobb and Gayle Sorrell served as co-hostess. President Laura Langdon presided and during the business session, plans were made to visit shut-ins during the Valentine season.
Juanita Hudson read the January meeting minutes and Ruth Upchurch gave the treasurer’s report. Chairman of the Education Committee Ann Jones introduced the speaker-State Superintendent of Public Education Bob Etheridge. Bonita Phillips, a Harnett educator, extended a special musical welcome by singing “There’s No Business Like School Business”,” The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow” and “Hello Bobby”.
Speaker Etheridge shared that N.C. had 1.1 million students in 1994 and 67,000 teachers at a cost of $.3.3 billion. There were 13,000 bus drivers used to transport students daily. The cost of educating one student per year was $3,000. He reminded the women that the cost to house a prisoner per year was $21,000. He pointed out that prisons were an expense while schools were an investment.
Visitors Barbara and Norfleet Gardner, NC House candidate, were guests who were joined by the following members: Ann Lamm Beasley, Helen Carroll, Linda Cobb, Frances Fanning, Gerry Honeycutt, Juanita Hudson, Margaret Johnson, Ann Jones, Laura Langdon, Linda Massengill, Elizabeth Nordan, Christine Parrish, Florine Penny, Joyce Rambeau, Gayle Sorrell, Sharon Stevens, Joyce Stewart, Julia Stewart, Rachel Turlington, and Ruth Upchurch. Mary Jo’s husband, Jesse Ray Mann, joined the group for refreshments (Daily Record Feb. 10, 1994).
Remember reading last week that a committee was appointed to research the cost of painting the town’s water tank. The town board discussed at length about painting the tank which was covered with lead paint which was a concern for all who wanted no contamination due the blasting off of the leaded paint. Bids varied from $ 42,650 to do touch-up work on the tank to $111,000 to strip the old paint and repaint it. A new tank would have cost $120,000. The board also discussed street paving bids, new windows on the front of the town hall, and updating the computer system in the town hall which would work well with the county system. Dorsey Daniel and Durane Currin were approved to the new planning board for Coats (Daily Record Feb, 14, 1994).
Recall that I ask a column back if anyone had an ancestor who attended the 1914 Moonlight School. My neighbor and sister-in-law responded to me after reading the Coats Museum News. Betty Ruth Tart Johnson shared that J.H. Pool (e) who wrote the letter to the Progressive Farmer about the Moonlight School was her grandfather-Joel Henry (J.H.) Poole. Betty’s mother, Pearlie Poole Tart, was his daughter. Also in the picture was Betty’s paternal grandfather, Festus T. Tart, who was seated next to J.H. Poole.
Betty Ruth also shared that her mother was the source of Louise Lloyd’s information for the Daily Record. Betty Ruth’s mother, Pearlie Poole Tart, is buried next to her parents, Joel Henry and Fannie Sawyer Poole, at the Williams Cemetery in Coats. Her dad is buried next to his parents, Festus T. and Mary Pearl Stewart Tart, at the Prospect Church.
Thanks, Betty, I continue to miss your mom who always was sharing tidbits of history of the Coats area when I would run into her at the IGA.
The date on the Daily Record in which you are reading this column is February 2, 2024 whereas the column news in this article occurred in February of 1994. The readers discovered that little three year old James Britt Beasley had a birthday party given by his parents Tony and Sandy Carroll Beasley. The “Barney” party was attended by his grandparents-Linwood and Becky Norris Carroll.
Death news was also read by the subscribers of the paper. Death had taken Josephine Glover Stone of Coats on Tuesday at the GHH in Erwin. She was the daughter of Willie Joe Glover and Callie Moore Glover. Her services were held at the Price Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Jesse Mooney. She was survived by two sons-W.C. and Keith Stone of Coats (Daily Record Feb. 9, 1994).
In Belle’s “Notes”, she reminded her readers that there were lots of Coats folks who needed prayers and visits due to sicknesses. Baxton Pollard had returned home after a ten day stay at the UNC Memorial Hospital. His faithful wife Wanda stayed at his side the entire ten days.
Holly Moore, daughter of Carolyn Moore, had a terrible case of chicken pox. Tony Upchurch was doing well after eye surgery. Janie Denning and Keith Stewart were home after surgery. Liza Shearin had fallen at school and broken her ankle.
Read the list that Belle mentioned as being shut-ins and see if you recognize so many of the names. That was thirty years ago so we know most of those mentioned are dead but there is also the possibility that many of the readers of her notes are likewise. She asked that the following be remembered: Tom and Pearl Tart, Lois Ivey, Ellie Byrd, Clyde Stone, McRay and Louine Stewart, Vic McLeod, Edna Ennis, Carlie Spivey, Rudolph Williams, Billy Ray Ennis, Blanche Gregory, Woodrow Langdon, Mary Gregory and Ralph Byrd.
The ladies at the Coats Methodist Church were very faithful to their meetings and church work. Judy Williams hosted the meeting at her home where Ruby Johnson presented an interesting program entitled “Lydia”. Carolyn Tart presided. Minutes were read by secretary Ruby Johnson and Helen Lockamy gave the treasurer’s report. A fundraiser bake sale was scheduled to be held at the IGA and funds were to be used to install carpet in two classrooms at the church.
Refreshments were served by Judy to those who attended-Ellen Metcalf, Sue Penny, Mary Forrest, Carolyn Tart, Angela Stone, Evelyn Roberts, Ruby Johnson, Edna Lockamy, Peggie Pope, Connie Penny, and Carolyn Barnes. Vickie Gregory was a new member (Daily Record Feb, 10, 1994).
Death marked off one of the names on Belle’s list to visit or to offer a prayer. Lois Roberts Ivey, 71, of Coats had died on Tuesday at her home after an extended illness. She was born of September 23, 1922, in Harnett County to the late John C. Roberts and Ludella Spivey Roberts. Lois was retired from the Erwin Mills. Funeral services were at the Coats Baptist Church by the Rev. Jesse Mooney. Burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Mrs. Ivey was survived by her husband Charles Ivey, her son Charles Ivey, Jr.; two daughters Joan Patterson and Carletta Ennis. Her siblings were Beatrice Pennington, Milton and Roy Roberts.
Mary Jo Mann is a name that has gone down in the education journals of Harnett County. After graduating from Coats High School in 1949, she headed off to East Carolina College where she earned her degree in Primary Education. She would return to teach at Coats School where not only did she teach in the primary department but also she would help coach the girl’s basketball team. She would continue her education which led to a supervisor’s role in the central office in Lillington. Until her retirement, she would devote her career to improving the opportunities for better instruction by the teachers who taught in Kindergarten-3 settings.
However in 1994, she would devote countless hours working to make the Coats Woman’s Club a club in which local women wanted to be a member. In the February meeting, Mary Jo was hostess of the meeting at her country home-Quail Acres. Linda Cobb and Gayle Sorrell served as co-hostess. President Laura Langdon presided and during the business session, plans were made to visit shut-ins during the Valentine season.
Juanita Hudson read the January meeting minutes and Ruth Upchurch gave the treasurer’s report. Chairman of the Education Committee Ann Jones introduced the speaker-State Superintendent of Public Education Bob Etheridge. Bonita Phillips, a Harnett educator, extended a special musical welcome by singing “There’s No Business Like School Business”,” The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow” and “Hello Bobby”.
Speaker Etheridge shared that N.C. had 1.1 million students in 1994 and 67,000 teachers at a cost of $.3.3 billion. There were 13,000 bus drivers used to transport students daily. The cost of educating one student per year was $3,000. He reminded the women that the cost to house a prisoner per year was $21,000. He pointed out that prisons were an expense while schools were an investment.
Visitors Barbara and Norfleet Gardner, NC House candidate, were guests who were joined by the following members: Ann Lamm Beasley, Helen Carroll, Linda Cobb, Frances Fanning, Gerry Honeycutt, Juanita Hudson, Margaret Johnson, Ann Jones, Laura Langdon, Linda Massengill, Elizabeth Nordan, Christine Parrish, Florine Penny, Joyce Rambeau, Gayle Sorrell, Sharon Stevens, Joyce Stewart, Julia Stewart, Rachel Turlington, and Ruth Upchurch. Mary Jo’s husband, Jesse Ray Mann, joined the group for refreshments (Daily Record Feb. 10, 1994).
Remember reading last week that a committee was appointed to research the cost of painting the town’s water tank. The town board discussed at length about painting the tank which was covered with lead paint which was a concern for all who wanted no contamination due the blasting off of the leaded paint. Bids varied from $ 42,650 to do touch-up work on the tank to $111,000 to strip the old paint and repaint it. A new tank would have cost $120,000. The board also discussed street paving bids, new windows on the front of the town hall, and updating the computer system in the town hall which would work well with the county system. Dorsey Daniel and Durane Currin were approved to the new planning board for Coats (Daily Record Feb, 14, 1994).
Recall that I ask a column back if anyone had an ancestor who attended the 1914 Moonlight School. My neighbor and sister-in-law responded to me after reading the Coats Museum News. Betty Ruth Tart Johnson shared that J.H. Pool (e) who wrote the letter to the Progressive Farmer about the Moonlight School was her grandfather-Joel Henry (J.H.) Poole. Betty’s mother, Pearlie Poole Tart, was his daughter. Also in the picture was Betty’s paternal grandfather, Festus T. Tart, who was seated next to J.H. Poole.
Betty Ruth also shared that her mother was the source of Louise Lloyd’s information for the Daily Record. Betty Ruth’s mother, Pearlie Poole Tart, is buried next to her parents, Joel Henry and Fannie Sawyer Poole, at the Williams Cemetery in Coats. Her dad is buried next to his parents, Festus T. and Mary Pearl Stewart Tart, at the Prospect Church.
Thanks, Betty, I continue to miss your mom who always was sharing tidbits of history of the Coats area when I would run into her at the IGA.