February 27, 2012 Coats Museum News
As we continue our paper journey through the Coats area and share some of the histories of the African-American churches recorded in the Heritage of Coats, North Carolina, let’s recall that the Massey family had donated the site of the Coats Chapel Freewill Baptist Church to the Cape Fear United Freewill Baptist Conference of America on or about October 16, 1934. This 120’ by 50’ tract of land was later acquired from the conference by the church’s active trustees who were W.M. Stewart, John A. Stewart, and D.M. McKoy. These gentlemen had acquired the deed to the land and dwellings from William F. Cox, John C. Smith, and Elisha Hargrove for the amount of fifty dollars. These documents were filed in the Register of Deeds office in Harnett County, North Carolina on June 1, 1939. Mrs. Gale Spears noted that the Stewart heirs continue to work to make sure the church stays in existence. This year the church should celebrate its 78th anniversary.
The Coats Chapel has been an active pillar of support in the Coats community. Voter registration, political gatherings, community projects, penny marches, gospel programs, and summer vacation Bible school are part of the church history. The choir is known for its talent.
Pastors that have served the Coats Chapel as of 2005 were Reverends A.M. Minter, Alexander Walker, J.T. Currie, Odell Jones, Frank Clarke, J.B. McLean and Reverend Ford. Mrs. Gale Spears recalled the following as being musicians in the church: Sister Rowena Ruffin Massey, Bud Gilbert, Mary Cameron, Minister Brian Davis, Owen Lee, Sharon Walden Stack, and Joseph Walden.
When the Heritage of Coats, North Carolina was published in 2005, Gale Spears wrote that the past and present Mothers of the Coats Chapel Church were Brazilla Stewart McLean, Mary Stewart Walden, Alvara Stewart McNeill, Clara M. Liles, Maggie Dewar, Missy Williamson, Mazuri Stewart, Sister Cassie O’Neal, Mater Jones, Genevieve Walden, Burla McLaughin, Josephine Walden, Blanche Dunston, Naomi Harris, Harriet Maxwell, Rowena Ruffin Massey, Gracie Bryant and Rosa Shannon, who died at the age of 105. Can you imagine the family stories that these “Mothers” could share with their families and our readers?
Shall we continue with the history of the church which contains valuable information about citizens of the Coats area. Mrs. Spears wrote in 2004 that the following were either past or present Deacons at the Coats Chapel: William Stewart, Johnny Cozart, Herman Williamson, Robert Jones, Jefferson Bryant, Reilly McKoy, James Walden, Holly Dennis, Crosby Liles, Gerald McLean, Bobby Harvey, ad Lorenza Davis.
In 2005, the Coats Chapel was an active member of the Cape Fear Conference of America. Elder Vernon Hood was pastor and his wife was Karen and their children were Amaris and Adonis Hood. Barbara Abney had been the financial secretary for a long time while Theraline Sampson had been the recording secretary for a long period. Josephine Walden was heading the usher board and Sharon Walden Stack was the musician. Blanche Dunston and Beverly McLean had started and maintained programs that enhanced the community. Brazilla Stewart was the mother of Jefferson Bryant whose wife is Gracie Byrant.
Do you wonder who some of the members of the church were in 2005? Mrs. Gale Walden Spears recorded that the following were members: Ruthie Hayes, Hattie McLean, Charles Zuniga, Hosea Zuniga, Teresa Liles, Beatrice Gilbert, Ann McNeill, Derrick Harris, and Brandon McLean.
As a former Coats High School teacher, it is with fond memories that I recall some of the individuals, their children and grandchildren mentioned in this church history. As the Coats Museum is assisting Peggy Robinson in publishing an African-American Heritage Book, we at the museum look forward to the many stories that these families can bring forth to record a valuable missing part in our local heritage. We encourage all of the African-American citizens who have an interest in preserving their family story to join us on the Coats Heritage Square on Saturday, March 24th. More details about the event will be given in upcoming news.
Next week you will read about the other African-American Churches in the Coats area-the St. Luke AME Church, Deliverance, and Coats Church of Prophecy. After those histories, I shall continue the chronological history of the Coats area from 1926 forward.
Have you been following the work going on at the Exhibit Hall behind the Heritage Museum.? The cement, plumbing, and electrical contractors have been on the site. The hall will exhibit many artifacts from the area. A big thank you goes to Tom Stewart from Erwin who called to come by the museum to give a 1910 booklet about making fertilizer at home. The agent was our own late G.I. Smith. Mr. Stewart also gave a copy of the 1808 Price-Strolher map showing the Raleigh Fayetteville Stage Road. The map shows the site of the Shaw family in the later Turlington area, but no families are shown in the current Coats or the Barclaysville areas. Do you know why? Coats native Joe Tart is working on an aviation exhibit project that will be awesome for a small town museum. Thanks, Joe.
Please be mindful that this article was published in the Daily Record on February 27, 2012.
As we continue our paper journey through the Coats area and share some of the histories of the African-American churches recorded in the Heritage of Coats, North Carolina, let’s recall that the Massey family had donated the site of the Coats Chapel Freewill Baptist Church to the Cape Fear United Freewill Baptist Conference of America on or about October 16, 1934. This 120’ by 50’ tract of land was later acquired from the conference by the church’s active trustees who were W.M. Stewart, John A. Stewart, and D.M. McKoy. These gentlemen had acquired the deed to the land and dwellings from William F. Cox, John C. Smith, and Elisha Hargrove for the amount of fifty dollars. These documents were filed in the Register of Deeds office in Harnett County, North Carolina on June 1, 1939. Mrs. Gale Spears noted that the Stewart heirs continue to work to make sure the church stays in existence. This year the church should celebrate its 78th anniversary.
The Coats Chapel has been an active pillar of support in the Coats community. Voter registration, political gatherings, community projects, penny marches, gospel programs, and summer vacation Bible school are part of the church history. The choir is known for its talent.
Pastors that have served the Coats Chapel as of 2005 were Reverends A.M. Minter, Alexander Walker, J.T. Currie, Odell Jones, Frank Clarke, J.B. McLean and Reverend Ford. Mrs. Gale Spears recalled the following as being musicians in the church: Sister Rowena Ruffin Massey, Bud Gilbert, Mary Cameron, Minister Brian Davis, Owen Lee, Sharon Walden Stack, and Joseph Walden.
When the Heritage of Coats, North Carolina was published in 2005, Gale Spears wrote that the past and present Mothers of the Coats Chapel Church were Brazilla Stewart McLean, Mary Stewart Walden, Alvara Stewart McNeill, Clara M. Liles, Maggie Dewar, Missy Williamson, Mazuri Stewart, Sister Cassie O’Neal, Mater Jones, Genevieve Walden, Burla McLaughin, Josephine Walden, Blanche Dunston, Naomi Harris, Harriet Maxwell, Rowena Ruffin Massey, Gracie Bryant and Rosa Shannon, who died at the age of 105. Can you imagine the family stories that these “Mothers” could share with their families and our readers?
Shall we continue with the history of the church which contains valuable information about citizens of the Coats area. Mrs. Spears wrote in 2004 that the following were either past or present Deacons at the Coats Chapel: William Stewart, Johnny Cozart, Herman Williamson, Robert Jones, Jefferson Bryant, Reilly McKoy, James Walden, Holly Dennis, Crosby Liles, Gerald McLean, Bobby Harvey, ad Lorenza Davis.
In 2005, the Coats Chapel was an active member of the Cape Fear Conference of America. Elder Vernon Hood was pastor and his wife was Karen and their children were Amaris and Adonis Hood. Barbara Abney had been the financial secretary for a long time while Theraline Sampson had been the recording secretary for a long period. Josephine Walden was heading the usher board and Sharon Walden Stack was the musician. Blanche Dunston and Beverly McLean had started and maintained programs that enhanced the community. Brazilla Stewart was the mother of Jefferson Bryant whose wife is Gracie Byrant.
Do you wonder who some of the members of the church were in 2005? Mrs. Gale Walden Spears recorded that the following were members: Ruthie Hayes, Hattie McLean, Charles Zuniga, Hosea Zuniga, Teresa Liles, Beatrice Gilbert, Ann McNeill, Derrick Harris, and Brandon McLean.
As a former Coats High School teacher, it is with fond memories that I recall some of the individuals, their children and grandchildren mentioned in this church history. As the Coats Museum is assisting Peggy Robinson in publishing an African-American Heritage Book, we at the museum look forward to the many stories that these families can bring forth to record a valuable missing part in our local heritage. We encourage all of the African-American citizens who have an interest in preserving their family story to join us on the Coats Heritage Square on Saturday, March 24th. More details about the event will be given in upcoming news.
Next week you will read about the other African-American Churches in the Coats area-the St. Luke AME Church, Deliverance, and Coats Church of Prophecy. After those histories, I shall continue the chronological history of the Coats area from 1926 forward.
Have you been following the work going on at the Exhibit Hall behind the Heritage Museum.? The cement, plumbing, and electrical contractors have been on the site. The hall will exhibit many artifacts from the area. A big thank you goes to Tom Stewart from Erwin who called to come by the museum to give a 1910 booklet about making fertilizer at home. The agent was our own late G.I. Smith. Mr. Stewart also gave a copy of the 1808 Price-Strolher map showing the Raleigh Fayetteville Stage Road. The map shows the site of the Shaw family in the later Turlington area, but no families are shown in the current Coats or the Barclaysville areas. Do you know why? Coats native Joe Tart is working on an aviation exhibit project that will be awesome for a small town museum. Thanks, Joe.
Please be mindful that this article was published in the Daily Record on February 27, 2012.
