February 24, 2023 Coats Museum News
The year was 1992 and the public had the opportunity to vote whether they preferred to have a young or older image of Elvis on the twenty-nine cents postal stamp. However in Coats many families were more concerned over the health of their special ones. The Henry Holmes family was praying for the well being of their beloved husband and father. Henry had undergone heart surgery. Carl Stephenson had suffered a heart attack. Kathryn Phillips and Lois Ivey were home and sympathy was extended to Mrs. Ludie Bryant‘s family (Daily Record Apr. 14, 16, 1992).
Then the news came that Talmadge Gregory had died on Friday. The Rev. Willie Jones officiated at the Full Gospel Tabernacle with burial in the Barclaysville Cemetery. Surviving him were Mavor Byrd Gregory and their children –Linda Gregory Matthews, Jimmy, Bobby, David and Jay Gregory (Daily Record Apr. 20, 1992).
A second death was reported in the area. Iris E. Blankenship, 83, of the Benson area had expired. Surviving her were Irene Grimes, Ada Brady, Mildred Meisel, Louise Johnson, Katherine Farless, Aldridge, Roy, Jerry, Jarvis, and Billy Ennis-all siblings (Daily Record Apr. 20, 1992).
Who remembers Jeremy McLamb? Jeremy was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McLamb. Jeremy was picked by the Dunn Rotary Club as the Dunn Rotary Club’s Student of the Week and was a member of Alpha, Beta, International, DECA and several other organizations at Triton High School (Daily Record Apr. 20, 1992).
Vara D. Wise had announced the engagement of her daughter, Tammy Wise, to Michael Lee Thompson (Daily Record Apr. 21, 1992).
Wasn’t it refreshing to read about some very happy news amongst all the reports of sicknesses and deaths in the community? But death is inevitable for each of us as it was for Willie T. Hawley, 72, of 602 East Stewart Street, Coats who had died on Tuesday. He was a retired machinist with the tool and die industry. Surviving him were Mary Dochia W. Hawley and sons- Randy and Ricky Hawley (daily record Apri.22, 1992).
Belle Williams’s “Notes” recorded that Fire Chief Keith McLeod had invited the pubic to the Coats Grove Fire and Rescue Building to enjoy hotdogs available to them. Question- was this in the massive and impressive building on McKinley Street?
Wonder if the Coats Rescue vehicle carried Elizabeth Stewart to Wake Medical Center where she had brain surgery. Did the rescue folks take Herbert L. Johnson to N.C. Memorial in Chapel Hill or did Mary Ellen Johnson Lauder take her dad back to the Chapel Hill campus where she had attended for four years and earned many academic honors (Daily Record Apr. 23, 1992)?
This I do know. The Coats Grove Fire and Rescue had a very successful open house. Everyone in Grove loved their Fire Department and Rescue Department because of the dedicated, active members who worked to make the community safer. Also because of their hard work, the insurance rate was as much as 30% lower for many in the area (Daily Record 27, 1992).
When I see the words Fire and Rescue, my memory flashes back to the countless times H.L and I witnessed folks like G.R. Stephenson standing on the street with a little pail seeking financial support for one of these volunteer departments. Then there was the answering of the doorbell to see G.R. or other volunteers selling tickets to raise money to support these fire and rescue folks who were giving their time and personal money to make the community safer and healthier.
It was a good day when our tax dollars began supporting these Fire and Rescue services. The medical training that can be obtained through the fire and rescue is so important. H.L. and I have four grandchildren. Our oldest grandson is a junior at University of Virginia in Charlottesville and our only granddaughter is a junior at UNC Chapel Hill. Both have interest in medical careers. I am amazed to hear about the number of hours that are spent by many students volunteering in hospitals, fire and rescue department s and clinics. These students realize that volunteering hundreds of hours and getting certified at different levels will better their chances to get into a good medical school.
Mrs. Manhart at Triton and Sarah Ellen Flowers at Harnett Central taught Health Occupations classes to hundreds of students which I personally know benefitted so many of them headed to medical professions. Now it is exciting to know that my former student Jonathan Denton is teaching classes that will open opportunities for those students interesting in pursuing careers in health safety. Having been out of the public school setting for a few years, are career oriented programs offered in our high schools? Welding is offered by Andy Cole at Triton but are there other departments for electrical, plumbing, carpentry, mechanics and finance courses being taught that will actually help a student survive once they enter the real world of adulthood.
I do know that cancer at one time was a death sentence as it was for Shirley Dupree Fuquay, wife of Cecil Fuquay, and mother to Lisa Ann Fuquay and Karen F. Helliger. Shirley was a very respected and loved teacher assistant at Coats.
It seems from years of writing the Coats Museum News column that the PTA or PTO groups have had to raise money for school needs. In 1992, it was no different. The Coats PTO was to have Horace Davis as the Master of Ceremonies at its annual PTO spaghetti supper fundraiser held at Triton (Daily Record Apr. 29, 1992).
The politicians were also trying to raise money for their campaigns in 1992. Tim McKinnie had held a BBQ fundraiser where he had a large group in attendance at the Coats Community Building (Daily Record Apr. 30, 1992).
The museum volunteers are so excited that more folks are coming to visit the museum. Many continue to honor friends and loved ones with memorials. Sue Holder Jenks, George Kaneklides, Grace McLeod, Carolyn Williams and Tim Peede were memorialized. Glenda Flowers McLeod, Don Byrd, Ron and Susan Jenkins and Stacy and Judy Williams have remembered H.L. These mourning families are hurting and I know these expressions of love do soften the pain. Thank you to all these donors-your giving is also helping to make a difference in the future of the Coats Museum.
If you are free on Sunday afternoon at 2:00, drop by and welcome the Angier Masons to the museum. A presentation of the history of the Masonic Lodge 622 which was in Coats in the 1920’s until the mid 1930’s will be shared by our own Don Bennett. He has worked tirelessly on locating, preserving and sharing the history of Masons and Lodges.
The year was 1992 and the public had the opportunity to vote whether they preferred to have a young or older image of Elvis on the twenty-nine cents postal stamp. However in Coats many families were more concerned over the health of their special ones. The Henry Holmes family was praying for the well being of their beloved husband and father. Henry had undergone heart surgery. Carl Stephenson had suffered a heart attack. Kathryn Phillips and Lois Ivey were home and sympathy was extended to Mrs. Ludie Bryant‘s family (Daily Record Apr. 14, 16, 1992).
Then the news came that Talmadge Gregory had died on Friday. The Rev. Willie Jones officiated at the Full Gospel Tabernacle with burial in the Barclaysville Cemetery. Surviving him were Mavor Byrd Gregory and their children –Linda Gregory Matthews, Jimmy, Bobby, David and Jay Gregory (Daily Record Apr. 20, 1992).
A second death was reported in the area. Iris E. Blankenship, 83, of the Benson area had expired. Surviving her were Irene Grimes, Ada Brady, Mildred Meisel, Louise Johnson, Katherine Farless, Aldridge, Roy, Jerry, Jarvis, and Billy Ennis-all siblings (Daily Record Apr. 20, 1992).
Who remembers Jeremy McLamb? Jeremy was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McLamb. Jeremy was picked by the Dunn Rotary Club as the Dunn Rotary Club’s Student of the Week and was a member of Alpha, Beta, International, DECA and several other organizations at Triton High School (Daily Record Apr. 20, 1992).
Vara D. Wise had announced the engagement of her daughter, Tammy Wise, to Michael Lee Thompson (Daily Record Apr. 21, 1992).
Wasn’t it refreshing to read about some very happy news amongst all the reports of sicknesses and deaths in the community? But death is inevitable for each of us as it was for Willie T. Hawley, 72, of 602 East Stewart Street, Coats who had died on Tuesday. He was a retired machinist with the tool and die industry. Surviving him were Mary Dochia W. Hawley and sons- Randy and Ricky Hawley (daily record Apri.22, 1992).
Belle Williams’s “Notes” recorded that Fire Chief Keith McLeod had invited the pubic to the Coats Grove Fire and Rescue Building to enjoy hotdogs available to them. Question- was this in the massive and impressive building on McKinley Street?
Wonder if the Coats Rescue vehicle carried Elizabeth Stewart to Wake Medical Center where she had brain surgery. Did the rescue folks take Herbert L. Johnson to N.C. Memorial in Chapel Hill or did Mary Ellen Johnson Lauder take her dad back to the Chapel Hill campus where she had attended for four years and earned many academic honors (Daily Record Apr. 23, 1992)?
This I do know. The Coats Grove Fire and Rescue had a very successful open house. Everyone in Grove loved their Fire Department and Rescue Department because of the dedicated, active members who worked to make the community safer. Also because of their hard work, the insurance rate was as much as 30% lower for many in the area (Daily Record 27, 1992).
When I see the words Fire and Rescue, my memory flashes back to the countless times H.L and I witnessed folks like G.R. Stephenson standing on the street with a little pail seeking financial support for one of these volunteer departments. Then there was the answering of the doorbell to see G.R. or other volunteers selling tickets to raise money to support these fire and rescue folks who were giving their time and personal money to make the community safer and healthier.
It was a good day when our tax dollars began supporting these Fire and Rescue services. The medical training that can be obtained through the fire and rescue is so important. H.L. and I have four grandchildren. Our oldest grandson is a junior at University of Virginia in Charlottesville and our only granddaughter is a junior at UNC Chapel Hill. Both have interest in medical careers. I am amazed to hear about the number of hours that are spent by many students volunteering in hospitals, fire and rescue department s and clinics. These students realize that volunteering hundreds of hours and getting certified at different levels will better their chances to get into a good medical school.
Mrs. Manhart at Triton and Sarah Ellen Flowers at Harnett Central taught Health Occupations classes to hundreds of students which I personally know benefitted so many of them headed to medical professions. Now it is exciting to know that my former student Jonathan Denton is teaching classes that will open opportunities for those students interesting in pursuing careers in health safety. Having been out of the public school setting for a few years, are career oriented programs offered in our high schools? Welding is offered by Andy Cole at Triton but are there other departments for electrical, plumbing, carpentry, mechanics and finance courses being taught that will actually help a student survive once they enter the real world of adulthood.
I do know that cancer at one time was a death sentence as it was for Shirley Dupree Fuquay, wife of Cecil Fuquay, and mother to Lisa Ann Fuquay and Karen F. Helliger. Shirley was a very respected and loved teacher assistant at Coats.
It seems from years of writing the Coats Museum News column that the PTA or PTO groups have had to raise money for school needs. In 1992, it was no different. The Coats PTO was to have Horace Davis as the Master of Ceremonies at its annual PTO spaghetti supper fundraiser held at Triton (Daily Record Apr. 29, 1992).
The politicians were also trying to raise money for their campaigns in 1992. Tim McKinnie had held a BBQ fundraiser where he had a large group in attendance at the Coats Community Building (Daily Record Apr. 30, 1992).
The museum volunteers are so excited that more folks are coming to visit the museum. Many continue to honor friends and loved ones with memorials. Sue Holder Jenks, George Kaneklides, Grace McLeod, Carolyn Williams and Tim Peede were memorialized. Glenda Flowers McLeod, Don Byrd, Ron and Susan Jenkins and Stacy and Judy Williams have remembered H.L. These mourning families are hurting and I know these expressions of love do soften the pain. Thank you to all these donors-your giving is also helping to make a difference in the future of the Coats Museum.
If you are free on Sunday afternoon at 2:00, drop by and welcome the Angier Masons to the museum. A presentation of the history of the Masonic Lodge 622 which was in Coats in the 1920’s until the mid 1930’s will be shared by our own Don Bennett. He has worked tirelessly on locating, preserving and sharing the history of Masons and Lodges.