February 26, 2021 Coats Museum News
The calendar continues to display 1986 when the Daily Record printed that the Coats Pee Wee football team members and coaches were Shawn Allen, Cullen Matthews, Joey Barnes, Brandon Smith, Stacy McLamb, Robbie Davis, Brandon Norris, Jason Faircloth, David Pope, Brian Davis, Brian Barefoot, Shawn Heath, Chris Ennis, Ricky Johnson, Roman Knittle, Zackary Stewart, Robbie Pope, Dwayne Autry, John Spears, Glenn Faircloth, Hunter Hall, Claude Pope, Mike Norris, Rick Johnson, and Mark Penny.
The families of the late Julius Parrish and Addie Parrish, their descendants and other family members gathered for a reunion at the home of Lee Parrish and Rebecca Parrish. Were they descendants of Rufus Parrish, one of the earliest settlers in Coats? Was this Mrs. Parrish’s second marriage? Did they operate a small store in the residential section of Coats?
I know for sure that our Rhonda Pope from Coats was one of three Morehead Scholarship nominees from Triton High School. Was she selected as a finalist?
Is the old Erwin Hospital being torn down? That was our very first hospital in Harnett County thanks to Dr. Holt. Right? Dr. W. Donald Moore was on hand for the dedication of the Good Hope Hospital In-Patient Psychiatric Unit in Erwin. Is that unit operating in 2021?
Another Farmer’s Day and Wagon Train was underway. Mr. and Mrs. David Gerald Langdon of Route One, Coats, announced the birth of their son, Casey Gerald Langdon. The baby’s grandparents were Mr. Gerald Langdon of Coats and Mrs. Clara Langdon of High Point.
David, can correct me if I am wrong, but I think Casey graduated from one of our Ivy League universities in New England and serves on the medical staff at St. Jude’s Hospital in TN.
Mrs. Betty Weaver was plant manager for SLC Corp., also known as Terre Hill Mfg. Co. Mrs. Betty McNeal was one of the seamstresses that made lingerie with the label of CIRA, INTERLUDES, and ARISTOCRAFT (Daily Record Oct. 13, 1986).
Some of you may remember that later, the SLC. Corp. was the factory that had irregular and overrun apparel sales in the vacated church across the street from the former plant. The wooden building was constructed and first occupied by the Coats Baptist Church and was later the worship site the Coats Methodist until they built their current brick church. (The history of both churches can be found in The Heritage of Coats, NC. Vol. II)
D. Kent Turlington and Phillip J. Bradley were members of a select group of 28 farmers and businessmen and women participating in a two-year agricultural leadership development program at NCSU. The program was a development program by Phillip Morris tobacco Co. (Daily Record Oct. 16, 1986).
Kent and Jeff are two of our area’s biggest farmers. Wonder if they continue to use information that Kent learned at that program?
Hannah Tart, wife of attorney Joseph L. Tart, was named Harnett County Heart Fund Chairman for 1987. Wanda Pollard reported in “Coats Social Notes” that Maylon Pollard, wife of the late Callie Pollard, had celebrated her birthday with a party at her home. Wanda wrote that it was good to see Mrs. Lina Turlington out shopping after undergoing a heart bypass surgery at Duke Hospital and that Billy Gail Pope was back at work at Popes ’Barn after having back surgery at Rex Hospital.
Wanda also shared that Mr. Melvin Cooke took advantage of some pretty autumn sunshine by sitting on his front porch. Mrs. Hermie Turlington was seen out shopping. Accolades were given to Dr. Linda Robinson, daughter of Dr. Donald Moore and Dr. Ann Moore. Dr. Linda, wife of Fred Robinson, was a second-generation medical doctor setting up a medical practice in Coats. Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey Daniel and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Penny both had attractive autumn decorations on their front lawns (Daily Record Oct. 17, 1986).
We all miss our friends and family who have preceded us in death but are there some deceased friends that we miss more than others? Joe Tart would be one of H.L. and mine as would Julie Stewart who was one of the hardest working and faithful Coats Kiwanis Club and Woman’s Club members. It was under her leadership that we had four white brick town entrance signs built, and under her that we purchased and displayed our first town banners. Her kindness and hard work goes back a long time. In 1986,Julia honored Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Harvell on their 25th wedding anniversary at her home. Mrs. Ann Little, Miss Kelly Stone, and Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Harvell assisted Mrs. Stewart with the festivities.
I bet Margaret House, a dear friend and equally hardworking Coats Kiwanis member, remembers this bit of news since she gave years of her life to the BB&T bank. Mr. Joe Penny, Jr. was honored by the Coats BB&T for reaching the Emerald status on the local board. The board members-Eugene Stewart, Albert Gregory, Grady Matthews, William R. Pope, Graham Turlington, and Phillip Bradley- also honored him on his 70th birthday. Mr. Penny was founder of the Penny’s Minnow Farm on Route One, Coats (Daily Record Oct. 22, 1986).
I began the column with news of the young football players in Coats in 1986, so let’s end the column with news of who the homecoming queens and escorts were of those teams. Andrea Currin, escorted by Cullen Matthews, was named Pee Wee Homecoming Queen while Harriett Roberts, escorted by Ryan Ryals, was the Midget Homecoming Queen (Daily Record Oct. 22, 1986).
The museum volunteers can’t tell you how many times former Coats students have made the statement that they wish that the old Coats High School had been saved and repurposed for the good of the Coats folks; hence, we are reminded how fortunate the town is that some former graduates of that same school were willing to put forth money and time to save the 1914 two room wooden District #3 Coats School and establish the Coats Museum in 1995. The town folks are blessed to have witnessed the addition of a Cotton Museum and a Kress and Nell Penny Williiams Exhibit Hall.
How was it possible in such a small town? The Coats Museum Complex happened from the generosity of hundreds of former student s, families, businesses, clubs and friends of the museum. Since the building of the exhibit hall, many cherished ones have died and their loved ones and friends have responded by giving museum memorials. The Coats High Class of 1956 has been so faithful in memorializing their deceased classmates. Virginia Norris Holden (daughter of J.D. –David- Norris) has been so faithful in sending their class donation memorials for the 1956 deceased classmates. She sent memorials this week for Willa Dean Johnson who died several years ago and for Rosa Turlington West who died a couple weeks ago. Lynda and Robie Butler remembered Lou Lamm and the Eastern Medical Center honored Clara Barbour with a memorial. The Coats Museum volunteers truly appreciate all these donors. As an old saying goes, “We couldn’t have done it without you.”
The calendar continues to display 1986 when the Daily Record printed that the Coats Pee Wee football team members and coaches were Shawn Allen, Cullen Matthews, Joey Barnes, Brandon Smith, Stacy McLamb, Robbie Davis, Brandon Norris, Jason Faircloth, David Pope, Brian Davis, Brian Barefoot, Shawn Heath, Chris Ennis, Ricky Johnson, Roman Knittle, Zackary Stewart, Robbie Pope, Dwayne Autry, John Spears, Glenn Faircloth, Hunter Hall, Claude Pope, Mike Norris, Rick Johnson, and Mark Penny.
The families of the late Julius Parrish and Addie Parrish, their descendants and other family members gathered for a reunion at the home of Lee Parrish and Rebecca Parrish. Were they descendants of Rufus Parrish, one of the earliest settlers in Coats? Was this Mrs. Parrish’s second marriage? Did they operate a small store in the residential section of Coats?
I know for sure that our Rhonda Pope from Coats was one of three Morehead Scholarship nominees from Triton High School. Was she selected as a finalist?
Is the old Erwin Hospital being torn down? That was our very first hospital in Harnett County thanks to Dr. Holt. Right? Dr. W. Donald Moore was on hand for the dedication of the Good Hope Hospital In-Patient Psychiatric Unit in Erwin. Is that unit operating in 2021?
Another Farmer’s Day and Wagon Train was underway. Mr. and Mrs. David Gerald Langdon of Route One, Coats, announced the birth of their son, Casey Gerald Langdon. The baby’s grandparents were Mr. Gerald Langdon of Coats and Mrs. Clara Langdon of High Point.
David, can correct me if I am wrong, but I think Casey graduated from one of our Ivy League universities in New England and serves on the medical staff at St. Jude’s Hospital in TN.
Mrs. Betty Weaver was plant manager for SLC Corp., also known as Terre Hill Mfg. Co. Mrs. Betty McNeal was one of the seamstresses that made lingerie with the label of CIRA, INTERLUDES, and ARISTOCRAFT (Daily Record Oct. 13, 1986).
Some of you may remember that later, the SLC. Corp. was the factory that had irregular and overrun apparel sales in the vacated church across the street from the former plant. The wooden building was constructed and first occupied by the Coats Baptist Church and was later the worship site the Coats Methodist until they built their current brick church. (The history of both churches can be found in The Heritage of Coats, NC. Vol. II)
D. Kent Turlington and Phillip J. Bradley were members of a select group of 28 farmers and businessmen and women participating in a two-year agricultural leadership development program at NCSU. The program was a development program by Phillip Morris tobacco Co. (Daily Record Oct. 16, 1986).
Kent and Jeff are two of our area’s biggest farmers. Wonder if they continue to use information that Kent learned at that program?
Hannah Tart, wife of attorney Joseph L. Tart, was named Harnett County Heart Fund Chairman for 1987. Wanda Pollard reported in “Coats Social Notes” that Maylon Pollard, wife of the late Callie Pollard, had celebrated her birthday with a party at her home. Wanda wrote that it was good to see Mrs. Lina Turlington out shopping after undergoing a heart bypass surgery at Duke Hospital and that Billy Gail Pope was back at work at Popes ’Barn after having back surgery at Rex Hospital.
Wanda also shared that Mr. Melvin Cooke took advantage of some pretty autumn sunshine by sitting on his front porch. Mrs. Hermie Turlington was seen out shopping. Accolades were given to Dr. Linda Robinson, daughter of Dr. Donald Moore and Dr. Ann Moore. Dr. Linda, wife of Fred Robinson, was a second-generation medical doctor setting up a medical practice in Coats. Mr. and Mrs. Dorsey Daniel and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Penny both had attractive autumn decorations on their front lawns (Daily Record Oct. 17, 1986).
We all miss our friends and family who have preceded us in death but are there some deceased friends that we miss more than others? Joe Tart would be one of H.L. and mine as would Julie Stewart who was one of the hardest working and faithful Coats Kiwanis Club and Woman’s Club members. It was under her leadership that we had four white brick town entrance signs built, and under her that we purchased and displayed our first town banners. Her kindness and hard work goes back a long time. In 1986,Julia honored Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Harvell on their 25th wedding anniversary at her home. Mrs. Ann Little, Miss Kelly Stone, and Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Harvell assisted Mrs. Stewart with the festivities.
I bet Margaret House, a dear friend and equally hardworking Coats Kiwanis member, remembers this bit of news since she gave years of her life to the BB&T bank. Mr. Joe Penny, Jr. was honored by the Coats BB&T for reaching the Emerald status on the local board. The board members-Eugene Stewart, Albert Gregory, Grady Matthews, William R. Pope, Graham Turlington, and Phillip Bradley- also honored him on his 70th birthday. Mr. Penny was founder of the Penny’s Minnow Farm on Route One, Coats (Daily Record Oct. 22, 1986).
I began the column with news of the young football players in Coats in 1986, so let’s end the column with news of who the homecoming queens and escorts were of those teams. Andrea Currin, escorted by Cullen Matthews, was named Pee Wee Homecoming Queen while Harriett Roberts, escorted by Ryan Ryals, was the Midget Homecoming Queen (Daily Record Oct. 22, 1986).
The museum volunteers can’t tell you how many times former Coats students have made the statement that they wish that the old Coats High School had been saved and repurposed for the good of the Coats folks; hence, we are reminded how fortunate the town is that some former graduates of that same school were willing to put forth money and time to save the 1914 two room wooden District #3 Coats School and establish the Coats Museum in 1995. The town folks are blessed to have witnessed the addition of a Cotton Museum and a Kress and Nell Penny Williiams Exhibit Hall.
How was it possible in such a small town? The Coats Museum Complex happened from the generosity of hundreds of former student s, families, businesses, clubs and friends of the museum. Since the building of the exhibit hall, many cherished ones have died and their loved ones and friends have responded by giving museum memorials. The Coats High Class of 1956 has been so faithful in memorializing their deceased classmates. Virginia Norris Holden (daughter of J.D. –David- Norris) has been so faithful in sending their class donation memorials for the 1956 deceased classmates. She sent memorials this week for Willa Dean Johnson who died several years ago and for Rosa Turlington West who died a couple weeks ago. Lynda and Robie Butler remembered Lou Lamm and the Eastern Medical Center honored Clara Barbour with a memorial. The Coats Museum volunteers truly appreciate all these donors. As an old saying goes, “We couldn’t have done it without you.”