March 5, 2021 Coats Museum News
November 17, 1986 was displayed on the Daily Record when the “Coats Social Notes” written by Wanda Pollard shared with the readers that sympathy was extended to the family of Mary Etta Clayton Loyd. Mr. Y.T. Jernigan was still operating an old fashioned gas station that featured someone to pump gas and enjoy a nice chat with the customers. Gary Butler, chairman of the Deacons of Pleasant Memory Baptist Church, was pleased to announce that Rev. D.H. McCollough had been named as full time pastor. Mrs. Ann Jones, owner of the Creative Critter Physical Art Center, was pleased to announce new activities at the center. One of the activities included Aerobic Exercises for adults, led by Angela Stone and Julia Adams. Karen Spivey would lead the Modern Dance and Jazz classes. Mrs. Janet Carson, a member of the Friendly Extension Homemaker Club, presented a program on “Why Be an Extension Homemaker Club Member” to the Coats Extension Homemakers Club at the Coats United Methodist Church (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1986).
The Grim Reaper visited and took Mrs. Janie Fish Coats, 71. Mrs. Fish was survived by two daughters- Mrs. Betty C. Pleasant and Mrs. Kim C. Haddock. Her sons were Rev. Robert L. Coats, William J. Coats, and Ronnie M. Coats. Her sister was Miss Sarah Fish and brothers were D.P. and Andrew T. Fish.
It was birthday time at the Joey and Barbara Pollard house. Their son, Lee Joseph Pollard, was celebrating his 2nd birthday on Route One, Coats (Daily Record Nov. 21, 1986).
Vanessa Jo Dorman was named Junior Miss Autumn Charm in Raleigh. Vanessa was the daughter of Jimmy and Sandy Dorman (Daily Record Dec. 2, 1986).
Who remembers Mrs. Vernie Mae Creech from your days eating in the Coats High School Cafeteria? Her smile illuminated the serving room. It was sad for many to read about her death at age 78. The Benson route lady was survived by daughters, Mrs. Jean Williams and Mrs. Ernestine Denning. Her brother was Howard Ennis and sisters were Mrs. Lena Coats and Mrs. Lunette Coats.
Mr. and Mrs. William Thurman Tart of Route One, Coats, announced the birth of not one daughter, but two. The twin girls were named Jamie Nichole and Jordan Elizabeth Tart. Jarvis and Edna Tart were grandparents (Daily Record Dec. 12, 1986).
Coats Mayor Tim McKinnie was making money- saving changes in the town. Tim suggested that each year that three or four streets be repaved, depending on the amount of available funds. Another money- saving investment was the purchase of gasoline for the police cars in bulk rather than from local gas stations. He also planned for the cars to be used a maximum of eight hours per day rather than the 18-24 hours a day, thus decreasing the need for mechanical repair (Daily Record Dec. 18, 1986). Who remembers Tim? Some amazing students graduated with Tim. One was Michael Hudson, who like Tim, died much too young.
A birth announcement came from the Ammons family. Mr. and Mrs. Teddy Ammons announced the birth of a baby boy, Teddy Kevin Ammons, Jr.
Hilda Pope is a name that can be recognized in so many settings-Coats Baptist Church, Ladies Auxiliary, Senior Center, Swinging Elders, Scouts, Kiwanis, Coats Museum and the list goes on. In this edition of the Daily Record, it was printed that Hilda Pope was a new employee at the Rose Funeral Home in Coats. Rev. Ralph Byrd was a co-worker with Mrs. Pope. Did you think that they could not have hired better people to meet in grief situations? I questioned-“When did they add Graham to the name of the Funeral Home?”
Wanda Pollard wrote in her “Coats Social Notes” that congratulations were in order for Mr. and Mrs. Leon Smith, Jr. They were celebrating a ten-year anniversary. Wonder if they ever dreamed that one day they would open the Smith Farms Ice Cream business which would be the destinations for people from everywhere. When our son visits from Virginia Beach, the family wants to know if the Smith Farms is open. If so, they make a trip there before heading north. Having Leon share the story of his many antiques he has on display there is worth a trip to the business.
Wanda also wrote that Julia Danenburg Butler was celebrating her birthday with her husband Gary Butler and sons- Brad, Brett, and Brandon Butler. She continued that the Pleasant Memory Baptist Church was preparing for the Christmas Cantata, directed by Pattie Styons and Pat Godwin, director of the children’s program. Wanda shared that Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Holland were enjoying their six-month daughter, Ashley Holland. Lee Tart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Tart, was playing in the Triton drama, “Christmas Carol.”
The notes continued the Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Pope announced the birth of their baby boy, Matthew Kevin Pope. He was born on the birthday of his Aunt Foy Pope. The baby’s grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Gail Pope and Mr. and Mrs. Jonah Weaver.
The volunteers have had visitors to the museum at the same time who were high school classmates and had not seen each other since graduation from Coats High. It is amazing to watch them reconnect after decades of separation. Something else we observe as we revisit the past is that some classes have remained in contact through class reunions, lunches and trips together. Some classes seem to have more students who have more name recognition after graduation. My husband, H. L Sorrell, Jr. graduated from the old Cleveland High School in Johnston County. In 2016, the Student Council at the new site of Cleveland High established a Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding graduates from the old Cleveland High. In 2016, the first four inductees into the Hall of Fame were Coach Bruce Coats, former US Rep. Bob Etheridge, mystery writer Margaret Maron and NC Poet Laureate Dr. Shelby Stephenson. In 2017, Cronin Byrd, Juanita Hudson, J.H. Langdon and H.L. Sorrell, Jr. were inductees into the Class of 2017 Hall of Famers. Where am I going with this information? Dr. Shelby Stephenson, Margaret Maron, J.H. Langdon and H. L. Sorrell, Jr. were members of the same graduating Class of 1956 at the old Cleveland High School.
Margaret Maron died last week. She had written 30 books and won countless awards for her writing. H.L. had so much respect for this lady who was proud of her rural roots and often made it the setting of many of her novels. A memorial donation has been given in Margaret’s memory to the Coats Museum. Margaret is a descendant of the Richard Ryals family who owned land on the Black River in the Coats area. A special thank you goes also to Louise Smith from Mitchell, SD for giving a memorial for Helen Sorrell Stephenson. We look forward to giving Louise a tour of our Coats Museum when she visits family in NC.
November 17, 1986 was displayed on the Daily Record when the “Coats Social Notes” written by Wanda Pollard shared with the readers that sympathy was extended to the family of Mary Etta Clayton Loyd. Mr. Y.T. Jernigan was still operating an old fashioned gas station that featured someone to pump gas and enjoy a nice chat with the customers. Gary Butler, chairman of the Deacons of Pleasant Memory Baptist Church, was pleased to announce that Rev. D.H. McCollough had been named as full time pastor. Mrs. Ann Jones, owner of the Creative Critter Physical Art Center, was pleased to announce new activities at the center. One of the activities included Aerobic Exercises for adults, led by Angela Stone and Julia Adams. Karen Spivey would lead the Modern Dance and Jazz classes. Mrs. Janet Carson, a member of the Friendly Extension Homemaker Club, presented a program on “Why Be an Extension Homemaker Club Member” to the Coats Extension Homemakers Club at the Coats United Methodist Church (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1986).
The Grim Reaper visited and took Mrs. Janie Fish Coats, 71. Mrs. Fish was survived by two daughters- Mrs. Betty C. Pleasant and Mrs. Kim C. Haddock. Her sons were Rev. Robert L. Coats, William J. Coats, and Ronnie M. Coats. Her sister was Miss Sarah Fish and brothers were D.P. and Andrew T. Fish.
It was birthday time at the Joey and Barbara Pollard house. Their son, Lee Joseph Pollard, was celebrating his 2nd birthday on Route One, Coats (Daily Record Nov. 21, 1986).
Vanessa Jo Dorman was named Junior Miss Autumn Charm in Raleigh. Vanessa was the daughter of Jimmy and Sandy Dorman (Daily Record Dec. 2, 1986).
Who remembers Mrs. Vernie Mae Creech from your days eating in the Coats High School Cafeteria? Her smile illuminated the serving room. It was sad for many to read about her death at age 78. The Benson route lady was survived by daughters, Mrs. Jean Williams and Mrs. Ernestine Denning. Her brother was Howard Ennis and sisters were Mrs. Lena Coats and Mrs. Lunette Coats.
Mr. and Mrs. William Thurman Tart of Route One, Coats, announced the birth of not one daughter, but two. The twin girls were named Jamie Nichole and Jordan Elizabeth Tart. Jarvis and Edna Tart were grandparents (Daily Record Dec. 12, 1986).
Coats Mayor Tim McKinnie was making money- saving changes in the town. Tim suggested that each year that three or four streets be repaved, depending on the amount of available funds. Another money- saving investment was the purchase of gasoline for the police cars in bulk rather than from local gas stations. He also planned for the cars to be used a maximum of eight hours per day rather than the 18-24 hours a day, thus decreasing the need for mechanical repair (Daily Record Dec. 18, 1986). Who remembers Tim? Some amazing students graduated with Tim. One was Michael Hudson, who like Tim, died much too young.
A birth announcement came from the Ammons family. Mr. and Mrs. Teddy Ammons announced the birth of a baby boy, Teddy Kevin Ammons, Jr.
Hilda Pope is a name that can be recognized in so many settings-Coats Baptist Church, Ladies Auxiliary, Senior Center, Swinging Elders, Scouts, Kiwanis, Coats Museum and the list goes on. In this edition of the Daily Record, it was printed that Hilda Pope was a new employee at the Rose Funeral Home in Coats. Rev. Ralph Byrd was a co-worker with Mrs. Pope. Did you think that they could not have hired better people to meet in grief situations? I questioned-“When did they add Graham to the name of the Funeral Home?”
Wanda Pollard wrote in her “Coats Social Notes” that congratulations were in order for Mr. and Mrs. Leon Smith, Jr. They were celebrating a ten-year anniversary. Wonder if they ever dreamed that one day they would open the Smith Farms Ice Cream business which would be the destinations for people from everywhere. When our son visits from Virginia Beach, the family wants to know if the Smith Farms is open. If so, they make a trip there before heading north. Having Leon share the story of his many antiques he has on display there is worth a trip to the business.
Wanda also wrote that Julia Danenburg Butler was celebrating her birthday with her husband Gary Butler and sons- Brad, Brett, and Brandon Butler. She continued that the Pleasant Memory Baptist Church was preparing for the Christmas Cantata, directed by Pattie Styons and Pat Godwin, director of the children’s program. Wanda shared that Mr. and Mrs. B.W. Holland were enjoying their six-month daughter, Ashley Holland. Lee Tart, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Tart, was playing in the Triton drama, “Christmas Carol.”
The notes continued the Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Pope announced the birth of their baby boy, Matthew Kevin Pope. He was born on the birthday of his Aunt Foy Pope. The baby’s grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Gail Pope and Mr. and Mrs. Jonah Weaver.
The volunteers have had visitors to the museum at the same time who were high school classmates and had not seen each other since graduation from Coats High. It is amazing to watch them reconnect after decades of separation. Something else we observe as we revisit the past is that some classes have remained in contact through class reunions, lunches and trips together. Some classes seem to have more students who have more name recognition after graduation. My husband, H. L Sorrell, Jr. graduated from the old Cleveland High School in Johnston County. In 2016, the Student Council at the new site of Cleveland High established a Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding graduates from the old Cleveland High. In 2016, the first four inductees into the Hall of Fame were Coach Bruce Coats, former US Rep. Bob Etheridge, mystery writer Margaret Maron and NC Poet Laureate Dr. Shelby Stephenson. In 2017, Cronin Byrd, Juanita Hudson, J.H. Langdon and H.L. Sorrell, Jr. were inductees into the Class of 2017 Hall of Famers. Where am I going with this information? Dr. Shelby Stephenson, Margaret Maron, J.H. Langdon and H. L. Sorrell, Jr. were members of the same graduating Class of 1956 at the old Cleveland High School.
Margaret Maron died last week. She had written 30 books and won countless awards for her writing. H.L. had so much respect for this lady who was proud of her rural roots and often made it the setting of many of her novels. A memorial donation has been given in Margaret’s memory to the Coats Museum. Margaret is a descendant of the Richard Ryals family who owned land on the Black River in the Coats area. A special thank you goes also to Louise Smith from Mitchell, SD for giving a memorial for Helen Sorrell Stephenson. We look forward to giving Louise a tour of our Coats Museum when she visits family in NC.