July 31, 2020 Coats Museum News
The month was April of 1985.The Coats Town Board had approved a financing agreement of $16,586 for a Chevrolet sanitation truck. The Board also began discussion concerning extra police coverage and sanitation work for the Coats High School Reunion Gala planned for May 17 and 18th (Daily Record Apr. 16, 1985).
The new Coats First Citizens Bank had its ribbon cutting ceremonies on April 15, 1985. In addition to the First Citizens dignitaries from out of town and the local branch employees, the following local dignitaries present were the Coats Board of Directors for the bank: Carlos B. Dixon, Carson Gregory, Herbert L. Johnson, N. Earl Jones, Jr., Daywood E. Langdon, Jesse R. Mann, Dr. W. Donald Moore, and M.T. Strickland. The Coats Town Board of Commissioners present were Frances Avery, Cecil Fuquay, Tim McKinnie, J.D. Norris, and Curtis Guy (Daily Record Apr. 16, 1985).
How does one get to be on a bank board?
This I do know. Mrs. Hettie Holmes Byrd, 71, of Route One, Coats, had died. Her husband-Newton Byrd, and son- Newton Conray Byrd, survived her. Her daughter, Barbara Byrd Mitchell, was also a survivor as was a brother, John A. Holmes. Mrs. Hettie had three grandchildren and two great-grand children.
I bet many of you recognize those names and will likewise recognize the names of the Coats Lions Club members-Greg Stevens and Tim Brown. The men were promoting the upcoming Men’s Class C softball tournament. The proceeds were targeted for the Coats Lions Club Little League concession stand at the Coats Recreational Park (Daily Record April 19, 1985).
Boys State and Tar Heel Girls State were and continue to be a goal for many students. Toby Stevens and Edwin Ray Brewer, Jr. were the students selected for the 50th session of Boys State sponsored by the NC Dept. of American Legion. Alice Ann Roberts represented Coats High School for the Tar Heel Girls State which was sponsored by the Banner Unit 109 Amercian Legion Auxiliary (Daily Record Apr. 4, 1985).
Kristin Greene, a 16 month old child, desperately needed a liver transplant. While she was awaiting a liver donor, which would cost in excess of $100,000, community people were having a barbeque benefit to raise some of the funds. Billy Pope, owner of Pope’s Barn, donated his help and all of his restaurant facilities. All 20 of his employees volunteered their time to help prepare, cook and serve the food. The tickets sold for $4.00 each. Other news in the Apr. 24, 1985 edition of the Daily Record shared that George A. Kaneklides, an attorney from Cary, was appointed as head of the Office of Legal Affairs for the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development. He was married to Ann B. Langdon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood Langdon.
Who remembers William Henry Turlington from your high school days? After college at NC State, he married Miss Lydia Barber Medley of Morgantown, Kentucky. The groom was the son of H.A. and Rachel Turlington, Jr., of Route 3, Dunn. Fast forward a few years, Dr. William Henry earned his PHD and lived in Franklin, TN at the time of his dad’s death.
The same April 26th edition of the Daily Record shared that Mr. and Mrs. William W. Massengill, Sr. of Route 3, Dunn, had announced the engagement of their daughter, Sandra Louise Massengill to William Brian McQuade, son of Dr. and Mrs. Jams Stanley of Buies Creek.
Sandra’s siblings are also popular local residents-William, Jr. is a former mayor of Benson and Gail M. Adams’ name can be read on signs advertising property for sale throughout the area.
Mrs. China Willis, 78, of Route 2, Angier, had died. She was survived by her daughter, Mrs. Earl Matthews; sons-Randal “Roy” Johnson and Ronnie Johnson and sisters – Mrs. Minnie Honeycutt and Mrs. Edna Starling.
Who can forget Mrs. Nan Stewart Williams? She was the widow of former Mayor J.B. Williams who worked harder to get municipal water for Coats than anyone I have written about and had he been successful, the town would likely have more industrial footprints. Mrs. Nan was 77 and was a beloved retired teacher from Coats School. She was survived by a foster daughter, Mrs. Pat Stewart Prunkella and three sisters-Mrs. Iva S. Byrd, Mrs. J.E. Longmire and Mrs. Blanche Bradshaw (Daily Record May 1, 1985).
Mrs. Williams was one of the first three graduates of Coats High School and it was sad that she did not live to attend the Coats Reunion of Coats High graduates from 1925-1985.
The Coats Museum Building Fund and Coats Museum Endowment received memorials for Betty Ruth Johnson and Nell Penny Williams. Thank you goes to the donors.
The month was April of 1985.The Coats Town Board had approved a financing agreement of $16,586 for a Chevrolet sanitation truck. The Board also began discussion concerning extra police coverage and sanitation work for the Coats High School Reunion Gala planned for May 17 and 18th (Daily Record Apr. 16, 1985).
The new Coats First Citizens Bank had its ribbon cutting ceremonies on April 15, 1985. In addition to the First Citizens dignitaries from out of town and the local branch employees, the following local dignitaries present were the Coats Board of Directors for the bank: Carlos B. Dixon, Carson Gregory, Herbert L. Johnson, N. Earl Jones, Jr., Daywood E. Langdon, Jesse R. Mann, Dr. W. Donald Moore, and M.T. Strickland. The Coats Town Board of Commissioners present were Frances Avery, Cecil Fuquay, Tim McKinnie, J.D. Norris, and Curtis Guy (Daily Record Apr. 16, 1985).
How does one get to be on a bank board?
This I do know. Mrs. Hettie Holmes Byrd, 71, of Route One, Coats, had died. Her husband-Newton Byrd, and son- Newton Conray Byrd, survived her. Her daughter, Barbara Byrd Mitchell, was also a survivor as was a brother, John A. Holmes. Mrs. Hettie had three grandchildren and two great-grand children.
I bet many of you recognize those names and will likewise recognize the names of the Coats Lions Club members-Greg Stevens and Tim Brown. The men were promoting the upcoming Men’s Class C softball tournament. The proceeds were targeted for the Coats Lions Club Little League concession stand at the Coats Recreational Park (Daily Record April 19, 1985).
Boys State and Tar Heel Girls State were and continue to be a goal for many students. Toby Stevens and Edwin Ray Brewer, Jr. were the students selected for the 50th session of Boys State sponsored by the NC Dept. of American Legion. Alice Ann Roberts represented Coats High School for the Tar Heel Girls State which was sponsored by the Banner Unit 109 Amercian Legion Auxiliary (Daily Record Apr. 4, 1985).
Kristin Greene, a 16 month old child, desperately needed a liver transplant. While she was awaiting a liver donor, which would cost in excess of $100,000, community people were having a barbeque benefit to raise some of the funds. Billy Pope, owner of Pope’s Barn, donated his help and all of his restaurant facilities. All 20 of his employees volunteered their time to help prepare, cook and serve the food. The tickets sold for $4.00 each. Other news in the Apr. 24, 1985 edition of the Daily Record shared that George A. Kaneklides, an attorney from Cary, was appointed as head of the Office of Legal Affairs for the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development. He was married to Ann B. Langdon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood Langdon.
Who remembers William Henry Turlington from your high school days? After college at NC State, he married Miss Lydia Barber Medley of Morgantown, Kentucky. The groom was the son of H.A. and Rachel Turlington, Jr., of Route 3, Dunn. Fast forward a few years, Dr. William Henry earned his PHD and lived in Franklin, TN at the time of his dad’s death.
The same April 26th edition of the Daily Record shared that Mr. and Mrs. William W. Massengill, Sr. of Route 3, Dunn, had announced the engagement of their daughter, Sandra Louise Massengill to William Brian McQuade, son of Dr. and Mrs. Jams Stanley of Buies Creek.
Sandra’s siblings are also popular local residents-William, Jr. is a former mayor of Benson and Gail M. Adams’ name can be read on signs advertising property for sale throughout the area.
Mrs. China Willis, 78, of Route 2, Angier, had died. She was survived by her daughter, Mrs. Earl Matthews; sons-Randal “Roy” Johnson and Ronnie Johnson and sisters – Mrs. Minnie Honeycutt and Mrs. Edna Starling.
Who can forget Mrs. Nan Stewart Williams? She was the widow of former Mayor J.B. Williams who worked harder to get municipal water for Coats than anyone I have written about and had he been successful, the town would likely have more industrial footprints. Mrs. Nan was 77 and was a beloved retired teacher from Coats School. She was survived by a foster daughter, Mrs. Pat Stewart Prunkella and three sisters-Mrs. Iva S. Byrd, Mrs. J.E. Longmire and Mrs. Blanche Bradshaw (Daily Record May 1, 1985).
Mrs. Williams was one of the first three graduates of Coats High School and it was sad that she did not live to attend the Coats Reunion of Coats High graduates from 1925-1985.
The Coats Museum Building Fund and Coats Museum Endowment received memorials for Betty Ruth Johnson and Nell Penny Williams. Thank you goes to the donors.