February 25, 2022 Coats Museum News
Randy Rambeau, the president of the CACC in 1989, was very faithful in continuing a project that Ann Jones and her board of directors had begun in 1988 in recognizing chamber business members. The May 17, 1989 edition of the Daily Record printed that the chamber had recognized SKATS Fast Food Service of Coats as the Business Focus of the Week. Dale Hagwood and Shelly Hammond managed the local subsidiary. Other employees were Tamara Tyner and Doris Tipton. Do any of you remember going to SKATS? Do you know where the eatery was located?
I do know that Belle in her notes about Coats shared that congratulations were sent to Julia Butler who was the daughter of Julian and Jean Danenburg and wife of Gary L. Butler. Julia was inducted into the Epsilon Pi Eta Honor Society at Campbell University. Julia was a junior elementary education major. In addition to her honors at school, Julia and Gary were rearing their three sons-Brad, Brett and Brandon. Do you recognize any of those names?
Belle also noted that congratulations were sent to Jerry G. Johnson who had celebrated 30 years of service at NCSU. Coats was not the only place that celebrations were occurring. Dunn had been awarded the distinction of an “All American City”.
Who remembers when Bruce Gomedella had a business in Coats? Belle reported that Bruce was planning to open a new business in the Coats Village Square. Did he have a business destroyed by fire? I do know that Mrs. Florence Adams celebrated her 94th birthday, and Carl and Barbara Williams of Route 1, Coats, had announced the engagement of their daughter Kelly Williams to Kenneth Lou McLeod, son of Wallace McLeod and Carolyn McLeod.
The Coats Council had made its decision on the request for a rest home to be built near Hunter’s Run. The town leaders voted 3-2 to reject the proposal (Daily Record May 18, 1989).
Question—the earlier vote was 3-3 so who did not vote on the final vote of 3-2 to decline the request?
The readers learned that Robert Strickland of Route 4, Dunn, President of the NC Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, had made arrangements to have their annual meeting in Dunn. The meeting had been arranged to coordinate with the annual tribute to WWII Airborne hero Maj. General William C. Lee (Daily Record May 19, 1989).
Robert Pleasant, a 1967 CHS graduate and former manager of THM Manufacturing, Inc. in Coats, was named as an agent for NC Farm Bureau Insurance. Robert’s wife is Jeanette Pleasant, a Harnett County teacher. Robert and Jeanette have three children-Robbie, Jill and Anita Pleasant (Daily Record May 23, 1989).
Featured in the “Notes” from Coats by Belle Williams were the new co-owners of the Coats Flower and Gift Shop. Edna Mangum and Carolyn Moore were named. Another new business mentioned was 4 Friends Pizza and Subs, owned by W.A. Surles and wife, Margaret Surles. Glenn Wood was manager and employees were Donna Currin, Ted Collins, Atlanta Hughes, Kevin Gilbert, Barry Tart, and Terry DiBella (Daily Record May 24, 1989).
While compiling stories about growing up in Coats, I crossed paths with Wayne Parrish. Many of you will recognize Wayne as being the son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Parrish. Percy was an amputee and Edna was a much loved first grade teacher. Wayne always was a colorful character who had a good way with words. He was always sharing with me little tidbits about Coats so I ask him to consider writing down some of his stories about growing up in Coats. He responded by writing several booklets of stories of his memories of being a teenager in Coats in the 1950’s. They are so fun to read and quiet informative because he shared stories of a wild beast in the woods of Coats and riding the elevator in the Vic Lee Store. Well maybe not an elevator but the apparatus did serve the same purpose.
However, in 1989, Wayne Parrish had won the Golden Poet Award for his poem, ”Hands of the Shepherd” that he had written two years prior following the death of his 23-year-old daughter, Maria Ann Parrish. Maria had battled leukemia for nine years and the poem was written as a tribute to the employees of the Pediatric Hematology Clinic at NC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill (Daily Record May 26, 1989).
Does the state continue to offer the NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship to worthy high school students? Jill Pleasant was a recipient of the four- year scholarship marketed as being awarded to the “Brightest and Best High School Seniors.” You just read that Jill is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pleasant of Coats (Daily Record May 29, 1989).
Another Coats resident had earned a certificate for completing the practical plumbing program at Wake Technical Community College. Everett Wilkie is husband of Julie Wilkie, a Coats teacher.
Not much information had been in the paper lately about the THM Manufacturing and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. The May 31, 1989 edition shared that they had reached an agreement after nearly 11 months of walking the picking line.
The same paper also printed that Mrs. Callie Coats, 93, of Angier had died. She was survived by her stepdaughters-Zola Fish, Velma Caddell, Valeria Adams and Coma Lee Currin. Her stepsons were Wayne C. Coats and Carson Ray Coats.
It was softball season in the county and the news shared was that the Coats Party Beverage Women’s Softball Team had defeated John Deere Tractor and tied for 1st spot in the Dunn Recreation Women’s Softball League. Laura Beasley, Cindy Matthews, and Donna McLamb led Coats Party Beverage with two hits. Also having two hits for John Deere were Gail Massengill, Donna McLamb (?), Judy Lipton and Kathy Peede.
Belle wrapped up the notes with the announcement that Robert Alan Godwin was married to Deborah Sills. Robert was the son of Rex Godwin.
Hank Barnes, Sr. died last week and H.L. and I have fond memories of how supportive Hank was of any worthy cause that we ask him to support financially. Peggy Robinson has been a friend and fellow volunteer at the Coats Museum for many years. Her contributions to our collection of Black History are astounding. A birthday has come her way and we are honored to remember her with an honorarium to the museum.
It was an amazing day at the museum as we reopened for visitors last Thursday. Jeanette and Robert Pleasant dropped in and spoke kind words about J.W. Sorrell, Jr. who had shared with them a vintage picture of the members of the Coats Fishing and Hunting Club. J.W. was so instrumental in the success of that club. We were excited to have two of our board members-Ralph Denning and Brenda Rhiner, talk history. We enjoyed a short visit with Gertrude Spears and Shirley Mack who was down from New York for a funeral.
Randy Rambeau, the president of the CACC in 1989, was very faithful in continuing a project that Ann Jones and her board of directors had begun in 1988 in recognizing chamber business members. The May 17, 1989 edition of the Daily Record printed that the chamber had recognized SKATS Fast Food Service of Coats as the Business Focus of the Week. Dale Hagwood and Shelly Hammond managed the local subsidiary. Other employees were Tamara Tyner and Doris Tipton. Do any of you remember going to SKATS? Do you know where the eatery was located?
I do know that Belle in her notes about Coats shared that congratulations were sent to Julia Butler who was the daughter of Julian and Jean Danenburg and wife of Gary L. Butler. Julia was inducted into the Epsilon Pi Eta Honor Society at Campbell University. Julia was a junior elementary education major. In addition to her honors at school, Julia and Gary were rearing their three sons-Brad, Brett and Brandon. Do you recognize any of those names?
Belle also noted that congratulations were sent to Jerry G. Johnson who had celebrated 30 years of service at NCSU. Coats was not the only place that celebrations were occurring. Dunn had been awarded the distinction of an “All American City”.
Who remembers when Bruce Gomedella had a business in Coats? Belle reported that Bruce was planning to open a new business in the Coats Village Square. Did he have a business destroyed by fire? I do know that Mrs. Florence Adams celebrated her 94th birthday, and Carl and Barbara Williams of Route 1, Coats, had announced the engagement of their daughter Kelly Williams to Kenneth Lou McLeod, son of Wallace McLeod and Carolyn McLeod.
The Coats Council had made its decision on the request for a rest home to be built near Hunter’s Run. The town leaders voted 3-2 to reject the proposal (Daily Record May 18, 1989).
Question—the earlier vote was 3-3 so who did not vote on the final vote of 3-2 to decline the request?
The readers learned that Robert Strickland of Route 4, Dunn, President of the NC Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, had made arrangements to have their annual meeting in Dunn. The meeting had been arranged to coordinate with the annual tribute to WWII Airborne hero Maj. General William C. Lee (Daily Record May 19, 1989).
Robert Pleasant, a 1967 CHS graduate and former manager of THM Manufacturing, Inc. in Coats, was named as an agent for NC Farm Bureau Insurance. Robert’s wife is Jeanette Pleasant, a Harnett County teacher. Robert and Jeanette have three children-Robbie, Jill and Anita Pleasant (Daily Record May 23, 1989).
Featured in the “Notes” from Coats by Belle Williams were the new co-owners of the Coats Flower and Gift Shop. Edna Mangum and Carolyn Moore were named. Another new business mentioned was 4 Friends Pizza and Subs, owned by W.A. Surles and wife, Margaret Surles. Glenn Wood was manager and employees were Donna Currin, Ted Collins, Atlanta Hughes, Kevin Gilbert, Barry Tart, and Terry DiBella (Daily Record May 24, 1989).
While compiling stories about growing up in Coats, I crossed paths with Wayne Parrish. Many of you will recognize Wayne as being the son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy Parrish. Percy was an amputee and Edna was a much loved first grade teacher. Wayne always was a colorful character who had a good way with words. He was always sharing with me little tidbits about Coats so I ask him to consider writing down some of his stories about growing up in Coats. He responded by writing several booklets of stories of his memories of being a teenager in Coats in the 1950’s. They are so fun to read and quiet informative because he shared stories of a wild beast in the woods of Coats and riding the elevator in the Vic Lee Store. Well maybe not an elevator but the apparatus did serve the same purpose.
However, in 1989, Wayne Parrish had won the Golden Poet Award for his poem, ”Hands of the Shepherd” that he had written two years prior following the death of his 23-year-old daughter, Maria Ann Parrish. Maria had battled leukemia for nine years and the poem was written as a tribute to the employees of the Pediatric Hematology Clinic at NC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill (Daily Record May 26, 1989).
Does the state continue to offer the NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship to worthy high school students? Jill Pleasant was a recipient of the four- year scholarship marketed as being awarded to the “Brightest and Best High School Seniors.” You just read that Jill is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pleasant of Coats (Daily Record May 29, 1989).
Another Coats resident had earned a certificate for completing the practical plumbing program at Wake Technical Community College. Everett Wilkie is husband of Julie Wilkie, a Coats teacher.
Not much information had been in the paper lately about the THM Manufacturing and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. The May 31, 1989 edition shared that they had reached an agreement after nearly 11 months of walking the picking line.
The same paper also printed that Mrs. Callie Coats, 93, of Angier had died. She was survived by her stepdaughters-Zola Fish, Velma Caddell, Valeria Adams and Coma Lee Currin. Her stepsons were Wayne C. Coats and Carson Ray Coats.
It was softball season in the county and the news shared was that the Coats Party Beverage Women’s Softball Team had defeated John Deere Tractor and tied for 1st spot in the Dunn Recreation Women’s Softball League. Laura Beasley, Cindy Matthews, and Donna McLamb led Coats Party Beverage with two hits. Also having two hits for John Deere were Gail Massengill, Donna McLamb (?), Judy Lipton and Kathy Peede.
Belle wrapped up the notes with the announcement that Robert Alan Godwin was married to Deborah Sills. Robert was the son of Rex Godwin.
Hank Barnes, Sr. died last week and H.L. and I have fond memories of how supportive Hank was of any worthy cause that we ask him to support financially. Peggy Robinson has been a friend and fellow volunteer at the Coats Museum for many years. Her contributions to our collection of Black History are astounding. A birthday has come her way and we are honored to remember her with an honorarium to the museum.
It was an amazing day at the museum as we reopened for visitors last Thursday. Jeanette and Robert Pleasant dropped in and spoke kind words about J.W. Sorrell, Jr. who had shared with them a vintage picture of the members of the Coats Fishing and Hunting Club. J.W. was so instrumental in the success of that club. We were excited to have two of our board members-Ralph Denning and Brenda Rhiner, talk history. We enjoyed a short visit with Gertrude Spears and Shirley Mack who was down from New York for a funeral.