March 21, 2025 Coats Museum News
The May 25, 1995 Daily Record was filled with Coats happenings. Shall we journey now and mention two family gatherings?
The descendants of Joe H. Penny, Sr. and Louella Lassiter Penny had gathered at the Joe Penny, Jr. pond for food and fellowship. Does anyone know the family connection between the Lee Turlington family and the Penny family? Agatha Whittington and her children were hosts for the Whittington McLamb family. Her brother Fonzor from California had spent two weeks with Agatha. Is there any connection between this family and the Joe Penny family?
While some were partying, others were attending funerals of relatives. Mildred Talton had lost a sister, Mary Langdon, of Fayetteville. Lector McGee had also died but some good news was shared that Julia Stewart was back in church after spending several days in Wake Medical Center. Some folks have such fond memories of those ladies while others have no knowledge of them.
I bet there are many who remember Mrs. Lib Guy who had enjoyed three weeks with her sister Virginia Bruner and her husband Bill. There will be those readers who have made a comment similar to that made by Graymon Powell who shared with Belle that he never realized there was so much to done around his place until he retired. Belle Williams said it looked like he had run into some “honey-do jobs”.
Barbara Rankin and Alan Pope were united in marriage at the Coats Baptist Church on May 6th. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Rankin of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Alan was son of Mr. and Mrs. Gail Pope. Beatrice Pope, daughter of Alan, was maid of honor and Christopher Pope, son of the groom, was best man. Kevin Pope, Derick Summers, Jerrad Brunner, Mitchell Pope and Foy Summers were part of the ceremony.
News continued to be shared in Belle’s Notes. Erica Gregory and Jonathan Tart were selected as the Athletes of the Year at Coats Middle School.
One of my favorite classmates and friends died in May. Hartwell Carroll Whittington of Route 1, Coats had died on Tuesday at GHH in Erwin. He was the son of the late Millard S. and Vada Turlington Whittington. Services were held at the Coats Baptist Church by Revs. Howard Beard and Ralph Byrd. His survivors included his wife Cheryl Dorman Whittington, two sons- Brian and Lloyd Whittington and one daughter, Sherri Williford. His siblings were Darwin Whittington, Frances W. Fanning, Rosalie Whittington and Rebecca Splawn. Jenna Marie Whittington and Ashton were his grandchildren.
There was a time in the past when Sunday afternoons meant a trip to grandparents, other relatives or friends’ houses to visit for a while to catch up. After H.L. and I married there was not a weekend that friends or siblings were over to visit to play cards, share a meal or just enjoy each others’ company. As time passed, did life become so complicated or filled with other activities that those visits were fewer?
A visit to the grocery store seemed to be a place that meeting up with old friends or students brought joy to both of us. I continue to have shoppers tell me at the Coats IGA that they so miss their short conversations with H.L. and then I began to understand why it took him so long to just get a short list of groceries. It was at the IGA that Hartwell and I always had catch up on family, classmates and friends.
With the passage of time, we become aware that there are fewer and fewer faces that we recognize on our outings. There was a time when Mayton C. Upchurch could be seen in the stores or on the Coats School campus for athletic events but no more after May of 1995. Death has robbed us of his presence there. Mr. Upchurch was the son of the late Charles and Joan Upchurch. He was a veteran of WWI and a member of the American Legion Banner Post and the Coats Junior Order. His wife Gertrude G. Upchurch and son Mayton Charles Upchurch preceded him in death.
His services were conducted at the Coats United Methodist Church with Rev. Jesse Mooney officiating. His burial was in the Neill’s Creek Church Cemetery. His survivors included a daughter, Janice Lucas, and two granddaughters-Shannon Green and Nicole Lucas (Daily Record May 25, 1995).
The Coats Museum Board of Directors met at the museum on March 15 with Vice President L.D. Parker presiding in the absence of Chairman Andy Cole. Other officers and board members in attendance were Becky Adams, Robie Butler, David Barnes, Myrtle Bridges, Misty Gil, Conrey Flowers, Randy Stephenson and Walter Weeks. Two faithful volunteers, Linda Cobb and Lynda Butler, also joined the group to serve brunch treats. Should you run into these folks around town, give them a thank you for volunteering their time to help preserve our Coats history
The May 25, 1995 Daily Record was filled with Coats happenings. Shall we journey now and mention two family gatherings?
The descendants of Joe H. Penny, Sr. and Louella Lassiter Penny had gathered at the Joe Penny, Jr. pond for food and fellowship. Does anyone know the family connection between the Lee Turlington family and the Penny family? Agatha Whittington and her children were hosts for the Whittington McLamb family. Her brother Fonzor from California had spent two weeks with Agatha. Is there any connection between this family and the Joe Penny family?
While some were partying, others were attending funerals of relatives. Mildred Talton had lost a sister, Mary Langdon, of Fayetteville. Lector McGee had also died but some good news was shared that Julia Stewart was back in church after spending several days in Wake Medical Center. Some folks have such fond memories of those ladies while others have no knowledge of them.
I bet there are many who remember Mrs. Lib Guy who had enjoyed three weeks with her sister Virginia Bruner and her husband Bill. There will be those readers who have made a comment similar to that made by Graymon Powell who shared with Belle that he never realized there was so much to done around his place until he retired. Belle Williams said it looked like he had run into some “honey-do jobs”.
Barbara Rankin and Alan Pope were united in marriage at the Coats Baptist Church on May 6th. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Rankin of Parkersburg, West Virginia. Alan was son of Mr. and Mrs. Gail Pope. Beatrice Pope, daughter of Alan, was maid of honor and Christopher Pope, son of the groom, was best man. Kevin Pope, Derick Summers, Jerrad Brunner, Mitchell Pope and Foy Summers were part of the ceremony.
News continued to be shared in Belle’s Notes. Erica Gregory and Jonathan Tart were selected as the Athletes of the Year at Coats Middle School.
One of my favorite classmates and friends died in May. Hartwell Carroll Whittington of Route 1, Coats had died on Tuesday at GHH in Erwin. He was the son of the late Millard S. and Vada Turlington Whittington. Services were held at the Coats Baptist Church by Revs. Howard Beard and Ralph Byrd. His survivors included his wife Cheryl Dorman Whittington, two sons- Brian and Lloyd Whittington and one daughter, Sherri Williford. His siblings were Darwin Whittington, Frances W. Fanning, Rosalie Whittington and Rebecca Splawn. Jenna Marie Whittington and Ashton were his grandchildren.
There was a time in the past when Sunday afternoons meant a trip to grandparents, other relatives or friends’ houses to visit for a while to catch up. After H.L. and I married there was not a weekend that friends or siblings were over to visit to play cards, share a meal or just enjoy each others’ company. As time passed, did life become so complicated or filled with other activities that those visits were fewer?
A visit to the grocery store seemed to be a place that meeting up with old friends or students brought joy to both of us. I continue to have shoppers tell me at the Coats IGA that they so miss their short conversations with H.L. and then I began to understand why it took him so long to just get a short list of groceries. It was at the IGA that Hartwell and I always had catch up on family, classmates and friends.
With the passage of time, we become aware that there are fewer and fewer faces that we recognize on our outings. There was a time when Mayton C. Upchurch could be seen in the stores or on the Coats School campus for athletic events but no more after May of 1995. Death has robbed us of his presence there. Mr. Upchurch was the son of the late Charles and Joan Upchurch. He was a veteran of WWI and a member of the American Legion Banner Post and the Coats Junior Order. His wife Gertrude G. Upchurch and son Mayton Charles Upchurch preceded him in death.
His services were conducted at the Coats United Methodist Church with Rev. Jesse Mooney officiating. His burial was in the Neill’s Creek Church Cemetery. His survivors included a daughter, Janice Lucas, and two granddaughters-Shannon Green and Nicole Lucas (Daily Record May 25, 1995).
The Coats Museum Board of Directors met at the museum on March 15 with Vice President L.D. Parker presiding in the absence of Chairman Andy Cole. Other officers and board members in attendance were Becky Adams, Robie Butler, David Barnes, Myrtle Bridges, Misty Gil, Conrey Flowers, Randy Stephenson and Walter Weeks. Two faithful volunteers, Linda Cobb and Lynda Butler, also joined the group to serve brunch treats. Should you run into these folks around town, give them a thank you for volunteering their time to help preserve our Coats history