March 6, 2020 Coats Museum News
Coats High School students continued to make the news in September of 1982. The FHA organization sponsored a pageant for Miss Coats High. The winner was chosen from eight senior girls while attendants were chosen from each class. The girls who participated were Paula Stevens, Estelle Surles, Penny Weaver, Lisa Eason, Valerie Royster, Lisa Williams, Jennifer Johnson, Helen Dennis, Debbie Upchurch, Carrie Creech, Katie Dunston, Samantha Stewart, Alice Beasley, Lori Spears, Donna Avery, Dana Barnes, Jackie McLamb, Connie Moore, Debbie Royster, Michelle Champion, and Sheryl Harvey (Daily Record Nov. 11, 1982).
The November 2, 1982 edition of the Daily Record printed that Lisa Williams was selected. Miss Congeniality was awarded to Katie Dunston by her fellow contestants. Tom McNamara was the master of ceremonies of the pageant.
The results were in for the Cystic Fibrosis Bike-A-Thon that had been held on October 16th. The twelve 4-H members and friends rode a total of 136 miles and raised $400.15 for the foundation (Daily Record Nov.3, 1982)).
Death had taken James Howard Parrish, 80, of Coats on Friday. His survivors were his wife, Mrs. Ruth S. Parrish, two sons-Dan and Wayne Parrish, three daughters- Mrs. Mildred Miller, Mrs. Ernestine Guy, and Mrs. Sonya Barbour. Lee and Judson Parrish, Mrs. Pearl Lovette, Mrs. Belle Williams and Mrs. Wilma Byrd (Johnson) were his siblings (Daily Record Nov. 8, 1982).
The Coats Board of Commissioners had met with Mayor Godfrey Beasley presiding. Members present to transact town business were Cecil Fuquay, Frances Avery, Curtis Guy, J.D. Norris and Tim McKinnie. A request was made by Ronald and Jesse Honeycutt that the board approve the cable TV measure and schedule a public hearing on a request for annexation of 10 acres on the northeast edge of town off Highway 27. The board approved the purchase of a new garbage packer for the garbage truck. The sale of the “Parrish House” which was situated on town property was to be removed from the site (Daily Record Nov. 12, 1982). Surely that has a story behind it.
Another well known Coats man had died. Mr. Jeppie Thomas Williams, 77, of Route 1, Coats, had died at GHH on Tuesday afternoon. He was a retired Burlington Industries employee and son of Albert and Flonnie Stone Williams. Mr. Williams was survived by his wife Mrs. Alice Gregory Williams, two sons-Harold and Stacy Williams and three daughters- Mrs. Hazel Roberts, Miss Linda Rae Williams and Mrs. Alice Fay Gautier. His brothers were Everett, Silas, Lloyd, Eugene, and Odell Williams. Mrs. Vergie Knox, Mrs. Ola Barefoot and Mrs. Dorothy Barefoot were his sisters. He was buried in the Stewart Cemetery (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1982).
Another Coats man had also died at Good Hope Hospital in Erwin. Clarence Edward Fish, 66, of Route One, Coats, was the son of the late Joe and Ida Johnson Fish. He was a veteran of WWII and a retired painter. His burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving him were two sisters-Mrs. Obie Stewart and Mrs. Anne Kenney (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1982).
J. Thomas West, son of Brookie Sorrell West and grandson of Walt Sorrell, Sr., had left the Fayetteville law firm of Brown, Fox, and Deaver in Fayetteville to join Lillington Attorney Reginald B. Kelly. West had graduated second in his graduating class from CU Law School (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1982).
Mrs. Pearl H. Tripp, 83, of Route 3, Dunn, had died at Wake Memorial Hospital. Her services were at Hodges Chapel PFWB Church. Revs. R.O. Byrd, Walter Pierce, and Don Sauls officiated. Surviving were her husband –J. Arthur Tripp, a daughter- Mrs. H.A. Turlington, Jr., and two sons- Elbert and Dwight Tripp (Daily Record Nov. 19, 1982).
Bruce and Doris Tart of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Carol Ann Tart, to Curtis Lynn Jones, son of Mrs. Ruth Jones and the late J.E. Jones. The wedding was scheduled for December 12, at Prospect Church (Daily Record Nov. 22, 1982).
Bobby Jean Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Moore, celebrated her 9th birthday with her grandparents-Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Moore and Mrs. Mamie Temple (Daily Record Nov. 24, 1982).
The Hodges Chapel PWBC Church, the Coats Hunting and Fishing Club and friends gave a benefit for J.W. Sorrell, Jr. The weekend event included a bird dog field trial on Saturday and Sunday with a barbeque chicken and pork dinner at the new Dunn Tobacco Warehouse. Mr. Sorrell had been badly burned in an explosion at his store at Hodges Crossroads (Daily Record Nov. 30, 1982).
While friends and loved ones were giving J.W .Sorrell, Jr. a hero’s welcome home, the Coats girls’ team was preparing for the 1982-83 basketball season. The girls who made the team were Andrea Ennis, Christie Gregory, Dana Barnes, Michelle Champion, Joyce Johnson, Denise Williams, Dephine McDuffie, Debbie Royster, Joyce Amerson, Beverly Steele, Beth Pope and Penny Weaver. Teresa Neal (Honeycutt) and Sandra Kay Howard were coaches (Daily Record Dec. 9. 1982).
The Coats boys’ basketball team was also practicing hard for a good season under Coach Bill Turner. The team was composed of Mark Pope, Elton Stewart, Steve Denning, Ronnie Tart, Terry DiBella, Antonia Purcell, Andy Williams, Mike Grimes, and Pernell Greene. Chip Hawley was assistant coach (Daily Record Dec. 9, 1982).
The Hoe ’n Grow Garden Club heard Keith Stewart talk on the poinsettias sharing how to extend the life of the plant with proper care, light, water and temperature (Daily Record Dec. 10, 1982).
Mr. Leslie James Turlington, 86, of Route 1, Coats, had died on Saturday at GHH. He was a native of Harnett County and the son of the late Robert Lee and Sarah Ella Gregory Turlington. He was a WWI veteran and a retired farmer. Surviving Mr. Turlington were his wife- Mrs. Amanda Turlington and a brother Lee Turlington (Daily Record Dec. 13, 1982).
A note of interest about Robert “Bob” Lee Turlington: On June 7, 1915, J.M. Hodges, Jr., T.W. Harrington and O. Bradley served on the Harnett County Board of Education which met to approve petitioners Bob Turlington and Joseph H. Penny’s request for a school to be later known as Penny “Rock Ridge” Grove 7. The county agreed to pay $200 of the estimated $800 cost of the building. The Grove 7 patrons were to pay for the remaining cost. The school was built on land given by Jim Dawson Avery and the school was constructed by local patrons.
The first teacher was William Cox who was remembered as having beautiful penmanship according to Hermie Turlington via Howard Penny, son of petitioner. In 1917-18, there were 2 teachers at Penny Grove 7. Each earned $44.40 per month and the school had 36 average attendance.
Records of the 1922-23 term filed by Myrtle Stewart showed that Grove 7 Penny School had 2 classrooms setting on a 2 acre site. The school contained 35 patent desks- 3 single and 32 doubles desks, 1 bench, 2 stoves, 1 bookcase with 45 volumes, 2 window shades, 1 map and 1 open well.
Stewart also reported that 6 students attended 110-120 days. There were 42 compulsory age students in the district but only 27 were enrolled. Nineteen students were promoted out of the 48 enrollment. Average attendance was 26. Nine students between 16 and 21 years of age attended. No students were in the 5th or 6th grade but there were 7th graders. The 1924-25 term had only one teacher employed at the building now valued at $600. The school had added a flag.
In the 1924-25 term, 5 students attended 110 to 120 days but 16 attended less than 60 days. Sixteen boys and 14 girls attended regularly and of these, 11 were promoted. Boys far outnumbered the girls in tardies. The average attendance was 15 that year and dropped to 14 in 1926-27, the last year the school operated before consolidating with Grove 3 Coats in 1927-28 (Sorrell, Together We Leave p. xi: 1985).
Can you believe that the average cost to build a new high school in NC today is 94 million dollars according to a Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 Daily Record article by Eliot Duke.
Students were being notified of acceptances into their favorite colleges and universities. One example is that of Miss Domini Lynn Ennis of Dunn who was entering as a 1983 freshman. She attended Coats High School and was the daughter of Tommy and Judy Williams Ennis of Route 3, Dunn.
Just a point of interest about Domini is that she graduated and is an educator.
Mrs. Willa Mae Sorrell, 34, of Benson, died on Monday. She was an employee of Bowman Enterprises. A daughter, Yvette Sorrell, of the home survived (Daily Record Dec. 13, 1982).
The Coats Yellow Jackets took two basketball victories at Southern Christian in Knightdale. The girls won 47-28 with Beth Pope scoring 14 and Delphine Royster 13. The boy Jackets won by 48-38. Pernell Greene had 10 and Mark Pope hit 11 (Daily Record Dec. 21, 1982).
Another family lost to death. Mrs. Ethel L. Langdon (Parrish), 90, of rural Angier, had died on Turesday. Services were held at Overby-Johnson Funeral Chapel and Bethel PBC Cemetery. Surviving her were five daughters- Mrs. Rebeth Mitchell, Mrs. Joyce Carter, Mrs. Thelma Mason, Mrs. Audrey Burchette, Mrs. Marva Whittington and two sons-Rupert and Raeford Parrish (Daily Record Dec. 22, 1982).
Surely it was a sad Christmas for Mrs. Ethel’s family and one that they will likely be remembered every Christmas henceforth. Happy memories were made for Bob and Glenda Norris Nordan as they announced the arrival of another daughter-Bobbi Lee Nordan. She was born on December 17th at Rec hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Norris, Jr. and Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Nordan were the grandparents. April Michelle was her older sister (Daily Record Dec. 23, 1982).
Thomas Henry Wilmoth, 72, of Coats, had died at Cape Fear Valley Hospital. He was a native of Halifax County and was a retired Fort Bragg fireman. Burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving him were his wife, Mrs. Clydia Barnes Wilmont, and his mother- Mrs. Etta G. Wilmont. His four daughters were Mrs. Gloria Stewart, Mrs. Rose Sharp, Mrs. Mary Williams and Mrs. Becky Taylor (Daily Record Dec.22, 1982).
The Coats news ended on a happier note when it was written in December 23, Daily Record that Leonard and Claudia Whittington of Coats had announced the engagement of their daughter, Bonnie, to Tommie Whitley of Willow Springs. He was son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Whitley. The wedding was planned for the Red Hill PFWB Church on January 15, 1983.
Dr. Burgess and Mary Jane Marshbanks visited and were delightful visitors last week. He shared that his Uncle Tom Link helped assemble one of the three Sears Roebuck houses in Coats. The Link men assembled one of them and the Link family lived in it. Dr. Marshbanks remembers visiting his relatives there and playing next door with Cecil Fuquay, son of Dr. Garner Fuquay. The house remains sound and is located between the Fred Byrd house and old Municipal Building on McKinley Street. Dr. Fuquay’s house burned a few years before the Coats Teacherage, old Municipal Building, was built in 1947.
Coats High School students continued to make the news in September of 1982. The FHA organization sponsored a pageant for Miss Coats High. The winner was chosen from eight senior girls while attendants were chosen from each class. The girls who participated were Paula Stevens, Estelle Surles, Penny Weaver, Lisa Eason, Valerie Royster, Lisa Williams, Jennifer Johnson, Helen Dennis, Debbie Upchurch, Carrie Creech, Katie Dunston, Samantha Stewart, Alice Beasley, Lori Spears, Donna Avery, Dana Barnes, Jackie McLamb, Connie Moore, Debbie Royster, Michelle Champion, and Sheryl Harvey (Daily Record Nov. 11, 1982).
The November 2, 1982 edition of the Daily Record printed that Lisa Williams was selected. Miss Congeniality was awarded to Katie Dunston by her fellow contestants. Tom McNamara was the master of ceremonies of the pageant.
The results were in for the Cystic Fibrosis Bike-A-Thon that had been held on October 16th. The twelve 4-H members and friends rode a total of 136 miles and raised $400.15 for the foundation (Daily Record Nov.3, 1982)).
Death had taken James Howard Parrish, 80, of Coats on Friday. His survivors were his wife, Mrs. Ruth S. Parrish, two sons-Dan and Wayne Parrish, three daughters- Mrs. Mildred Miller, Mrs. Ernestine Guy, and Mrs. Sonya Barbour. Lee and Judson Parrish, Mrs. Pearl Lovette, Mrs. Belle Williams and Mrs. Wilma Byrd (Johnson) were his siblings (Daily Record Nov. 8, 1982).
The Coats Board of Commissioners had met with Mayor Godfrey Beasley presiding. Members present to transact town business were Cecil Fuquay, Frances Avery, Curtis Guy, J.D. Norris and Tim McKinnie. A request was made by Ronald and Jesse Honeycutt that the board approve the cable TV measure and schedule a public hearing on a request for annexation of 10 acres on the northeast edge of town off Highway 27. The board approved the purchase of a new garbage packer for the garbage truck. The sale of the “Parrish House” which was situated on town property was to be removed from the site (Daily Record Nov. 12, 1982). Surely that has a story behind it.
Another well known Coats man had died. Mr. Jeppie Thomas Williams, 77, of Route 1, Coats, had died at GHH on Tuesday afternoon. He was a retired Burlington Industries employee and son of Albert and Flonnie Stone Williams. Mr. Williams was survived by his wife Mrs. Alice Gregory Williams, two sons-Harold and Stacy Williams and three daughters- Mrs. Hazel Roberts, Miss Linda Rae Williams and Mrs. Alice Fay Gautier. His brothers were Everett, Silas, Lloyd, Eugene, and Odell Williams. Mrs. Vergie Knox, Mrs. Ola Barefoot and Mrs. Dorothy Barefoot were his sisters. He was buried in the Stewart Cemetery (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1982).
Another Coats man had also died at Good Hope Hospital in Erwin. Clarence Edward Fish, 66, of Route One, Coats, was the son of the late Joe and Ida Johnson Fish. He was a veteran of WWII and a retired painter. His burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving him were two sisters-Mrs. Obie Stewart and Mrs. Anne Kenney (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1982).
J. Thomas West, son of Brookie Sorrell West and grandson of Walt Sorrell, Sr., had left the Fayetteville law firm of Brown, Fox, and Deaver in Fayetteville to join Lillington Attorney Reginald B. Kelly. West had graduated second in his graduating class from CU Law School (Daily Record Nov. 17, 1982).
Mrs. Pearl H. Tripp, 83, of Route 3, Dunn, had died at Wake Memorial Hospital. Her services were at Hodges Chapel PFWB Church. Revs. R.O. Byrd, Walter Pierce, and Don Sauls officiated. Surviving were her husband –J. Arthur Tripp, a daughter- Mrs. H.A. Turlington, Jr., and two sons- Elbert and Dwight Tripp (Daily Record Nov. 19, 1982).
Bruce and Doris Tart of Coats announced the engagement of their daughter, Carol Ann Tart, to Curtis Lynn Jones, son of Mrs. Ruth Jones and the late J.E. Jones. The wedding was scheduled for December 12, at Prospect Church (Daily Record Nov. 22, 1982).
Bobby Jean Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Moore, celebrated her 9th birthday with her grandparents-Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Moore and Mrs. Mamie Temple (Daily Record Nov. 24, 1982).
The Hodges Chapel PWBC Church, the Coats Hunting and Fishing Club and friends gave a benefit for J.W. Sorrell, Jr. The weekend event included a bird dog field trial on Saturday and Sunday with a barbeque chicken and pork dinner at the new Dunn Tobacco Warehouse. Mr. Sorrell had been badly burned in an explosion at his store at Hodges Crossroads (Daily Record Nov. 30, 1982).
While friends and loved ones were giving J.W .Sorrell, Jr. a hero’s welcome home, the Coats girls’ team was preparing for the 1982-83 basketball season. The girls who made the team were Andrea Ennis, Christie Gregory, Dana Barnes, Michelle Champion, Joyce Johnson, Denise Williams, Dephine McDuffie, Debbie Royster, Joyce Amerson, Beverly Steele, Beth Pope and Penny Weaver. Teresa Neal (Honeycutt) and Sandra Kay Howard were coaches (Daily Record Dec. 9. 1982).
The Coats boys’ basketball team was also practicing hard for a good season under Coach Bill Turner. The team was composed of Mark Pope, Elton Stewart, Steve Denning, Ronnie Tart, Terry DiBella, Antonia Purcell, Andy Williams, Mike Grimes, and Pernell Greene. Chip Hawley was assistant coach (Daily Record Dec. 9, 1982).
The Hoe ’n Grow Garden Club heard Keith Stewart talk on the poinsettias sharing how to extend the life of the plant with proper care, light, water and temperature (Daily Record Dec. 10, 1982).
Mr. Leslie James Turlington, 86, of Route 1, Coats, had died on Saturday at GHH. He was a native of Harnett County and the son of the late Robert Lee and Sarah Ella Gregory Turlington. He was a WWI veteran and a retired farmer. Surviving Mr. Turlington were his wife- Mrs. Amanda Turlington and a brother Lee Turlington (Daily Record Dec. 13, 1982).
A note of interest about Robert “Bob” Lee Turlington: On June 7, 1915, J.M. Hodges, Jr., T.W. Harrington and O. Bradley served on the Harnett County Board of Education which met to approve petitioners Bob Turlington and Joseph H. Penny’s request for a school to be later known as Penny “Rock Ridge” Grove 7. The county agreed to pay $200 of the estimated $800 cost of the building. The Grove 7 patrons were to pay for the remaining cost. The school was built on land given by Jim Dawson Avery and the school was constructed by local patrons.
The first teacher was William Cox who was remembered as having beautiful penmanship according to Hermie Turlington via Howard Penny, son of petitioner. In 1917-18, there were 2 teachers at Penny Grove 7. Each earned $44.40 per month and the school had 36 average attendance.
Records of the 1922-23 term filed by Myrtle Stewart showed that Grove 7 Penny School had 2 classrooms setting on a 2 acre site. The school contained 35 patent desks- 3 single and 32 doubles desks, 1 bench, 2 stoves, 1 bookcase with 45 volumes, 2 window shades, 1 map and 1 open well.
Stewart also reported that 6 students attended 110-120 days. There were 42 compulsory age students in the district but only 27 were enrolled. Nineteen students were promoted out of the 48 enrollment. Average attendance was 26. Nine students between 16 and 21 years of age attended. No students were in the 5th or 6th grade but there were 7th graders. The 1924-25 term had only one teacher employed at the building now valued at $600. The school had added a flag.
In the 1924-25 term, 5 students attended 110 to 120 days but 16 attended less than 60 days. Sixteen boys and 14 girls attended regularly and of these, 11 were promoted. Boys far outnumbered the girls in tardies. The average attendance was 15 that year and dropped to 14 in 1926-27, the last year the school operated before consolidating with Grove 3 Coats in 1927-28 (Sorrell, Together We Leave p. xi: 1985).
Can you believe that the average cost to build a new high school in NC today is 94 million dollars according to a Monday, Feb. 24, 2020 Daily Record article by Eliot Duke.
Students were being notified of acceptances into their favorite colleges and universities. One example is that of Miss Domini Lynn Ennis of Dunn who was entering as a 1983 freshman. She attended Coats High School and was the daughter of Tommy and Judy Williams Ennis of Route 3, Dunn.
Just a point of interest about Domini is that she graduated and is an educator.
Mrs. Willa Mae Sorrell, 34, of Benson, died on Monday. She was an employee of Bowman Enterprises. A daughter, Yvette Sorrell, of the home survived (Daily Record Dec. 13, 1982).
The Coats Yellow Jackets took two basketball victories at Southern Christian in Knightdale. The girls won 47-28 with Beth Pope scoring 14 and Delphine Royster 13. The boy Jackets won by 48-38. Pernell Greene had 10 and Mark Pope hit 11 (Daily Record Dec. 21, 1982).
Another family lost to death. Mrs. Ethel L. Langdon (Parrish), 90, of rural Angier, had died on Turesday. Services were held at Overby-Johnson Funeral Chapel and Bethel PBC Cemetery. Surviving her were five daughters- Mrs. Rebeth Mitchell, Mrs. Joyce Carter, Mrs. Thelma Mason, Mrs. Audrey Burchette, Mrs. Marva Whittington and two sons-Rupert and Raeford Parrish (Daily Record Dec. 22, 1982).
Surely it was a sad Christmas for Mrs. Ethel’s family and one that they will likely be remembered every Christmas henceforth. Happy memories were made for Bob and Glenda Norris Nordan as they announced the arrival of another daughter-Bobbi Lee Nordan. She was born on December 17th at Rec hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Norris, Jr. and Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Nordan were the grandparents. April Michelle was her older sister (Daily Record Dec. 23, 1982).
Thomas Henry Wilmoth, 72, of Coats, had died at Cape Fear Valley Hospital. He was a native of Halifax County and was a retired Fort Bragg fireman. Burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving him were his wife, Mrs. Clydia Barnes Wilmont, and his mother- Mrs. Etta G. Wilmont. His four daughters were Mrs. Gloria Stewart, Mrs. Rose Sharp, Mrs. Mary Williams and Mrs. Becky Taylor (Daily Record Dec.22, 1982).
The Coats news ended on a happier note when it was written in December 23, Daily Record that Leonard and Claudia Whittington of Coats had announced the engagement of their daughter, Bonnie, to Tommie Whitley of Willow Springs. He was son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Whitley. The wedding was planned for the Red Hill PFWB Church on January 15, 1983.
Dr. Burgess and Mary Jane Marshbanks visited and were delightful visitors last week. He shared that his Uncle Tom Link helped assemble one of the three Sears Roebuck houses in Coats. The Link men assembled one of them and the Link family lived in it. Dr. Marshbanks remembers visiting his relatives there and playing next door with Cecil Fuquay, son of Dr. Garner Fuquay. The house remains sound and is located between the Fred Byrd house and old Municipal Building on McKinley Street. Dr. Fuquay’s house burned a few years before the Coats Teacherage, old Municipal Building, was built in 1947.