May 12, 2023 Coats Museum News
It was September of 1992 and the November elections were only a few weeks away when the CACC Business Focus of the Week was focused on the Byrd’s Insurance Agency. Teddy Byrd, after a period in the Armed Forces, took over the insurance office of Nationwide in Coats. It was previously owned and managed by Grady Matthews since the 1950’s. Byrd took over the ownership in 1989. In 1990, the agency qualified for the Champion Award. Shirley Flowers had served as office manager for nine years. Ramon Sullivan was customer service representative. Patsy Carson operated the Erwin area. Byrd is married to Shelia Matthews Byrd and they have two children-Samantha and Alexander (Daily Record Sept. 22, 1992).
What fun the people on Brickmill Road must have had at Buddy and Julia Gregory’s house. The couple had hosted a block party with pig and chicken barbeque plus all the trimmings. Maybe all the games of volleyball, horseshoes, badminton, and bingo helped burn the calories from eating the homemade ice cream, cakes, and other goodies. Others who helped with the hosting wee Roscoe and Jean Williams, Joey and Barbara Pollard, Mitchell and Liza Clayton. What fun the 55 people must have had.
News was that Mrs. Lucy Weaver was much better and Willis Pope had suffered extensive injuries when a car hit him as he was crossing the road at a friend’s house. Little Justin Ryals was home after a few days in the hospital. Kathy Denning and Lynwood were honored on their 25th wedding anniversary. The party was at Mrs. Doc Denning’s house (Daily Record Sept. 24, 1992).
Death came and took Jessie McNeill, 68, of Route One, Coats, had died at the GHH in Erwin. Services were at Mt. Pisgah, FWB Church by Rev. Reginald Hinton. His burial was in the Resthaven Cemetery in Dunn. His wife, Hattie McNeill, his son Connell McNeill, and four daughters Doris Fay Thomas, Janice Gunn, Jesse Mae Spearman and Estella McNeill survived him (Daily Record Sept. 29, 1992).
Linda Rae Williams, 63, of Coats, had died on Tuesday at the Golden years Nursing Home in Falcon. Miss Williams was the daughter of the late Jeppie T. Williams. Her services were held at the Cromartie-Miller and Lee Funeral Home Chapel. Her burial was at the Stewart Cemetery near Coats off Highway 55. Linda was survived by her mother, Alice Gregory Williams; two sisters-Hazel Roberts and Faye Gautier and two brothers-Harold and Stacy Williams (Daily Record Sept. 30, 1992). I always enjoyed Linda’s sister-in law Judy Williams talking about Linda with such love.
Patty Godwin and Linda Mangum moved from their shop “County Salon” on NC 27 Main Street to the shop vacated by pat Godwin’s Hair Designs by Pat”. Question -was this the site of the T.O. Beasley Barber Shop back in the day? Was there a mural painted on the wall and did Fleetwood Adams barber there later?
I do know that there was a lot of celebrating going on in Coats. Amy Cutts and Wilma Byrd had celebrated birthdays. Amy went to Virginia Beach and Wilma‘s family honored her at the Western Sizzlin. Gene Stewart and Mary celebrated their 50th anniversary at the Coats Senior Center. Godfrey and Ann Beasley, Hayes and Dovie Beasley, Billy and Peggie Pope had returned from a six-week cross country vacation (Daily Record Oct. 1, 1992).
The Coats Area Chamber of Commerce paid tribute to the Coats Elementary employees. There were 41 teachers and 12 assistant teachers on staff. The main feature was to recognize Carolyn Broadwell as the Coats Teacher of the Year. Carolyn had taught in Coats for 16 years and was married to Coy Broadwell, a former vocational agricultural at Coats. Carolyn was a CU graduate and a member of the honorary Alpha Delta Kappa Gamma Pi Sorority (Daily Record Oct. 2, 1992).
All kinds of activities were going on at the Coats Senior Center but according to Belle in her Notes from Coats, there were many who were not able to be a part of the activity because of illnesses. The ones she named were Greg Stevens, Coma Lee Currin, Willis Pope, John Mack Ferrell, Shirley Faye Hayes, Clyde McLeod, and Larkin Norris (Daily Record Oct. 8, 1992).
The CACC had placed a special commendation on a business that had the longest tenure of all businesses in the area and one the oldest in the state. The company was started in 1917 by Dr. Harry C. Roberts. Roberts was the father of Dr. Clarence Roberts of Dunn and the late Haywood Roberts of Coats. Guy Stewart was the company’s bookkeeper and manager. The company began as a Ford Agency but switched over to a Chrysler dealership after Stewart bought out the interest of Dr. Harry Roberts. The Ford Agency ended in 1933 but was owned by Stewart since 1923. The company passed from Guy Stewart to his son Eugene and then to his son Don Stewart. The five-star Service Quality Award, Chrysler ‘s top award had been given to the Coats Motor Company every year since 1985 (Daily Record Oct. 12, 1992).
Death once again visited Coats and took one of its oldest citizens-Hester Williams, 87, of Route One, Coats. He had died Monday in the Harnett Manor. The retired farmer was the son of the late William Graymon Powell and Tilitha Whitman. He was a member of the Gift Primitive Baptist Church. His services were at the Rose and Graham Funeral Chapel in Coats. Burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving his were his wife Louise Griffin Williams; two sons-Willard Williams and Sherwood Williams; and one daughter, Greta Mitchell. Eula Byrd was his sister (Daily Record Oct. 13, 1992).
Tidbits of local news shared that Kenneth Ennis had a surprise party given to him to honor his fiftieth birthday. His parents-Chester and Edna Ennis were the hosts to their son’s big night at Ron’s Barn. James Little, Ann Little, Johnny Morgan and Penny took in all the historical places such as Lookout Mountain, and Chickamauga. Ann’s daughter, Kelly Stone, was a senior at UNC Wilmington.
Tickets for $25 were being sold to raise money for refurbishing the old school into a Coats Museum. Julia Stewart reported that brick sales went well as the Farmers Day (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1992).
That was a bit of news about the Coats Museum from 31 years ago. A few had their doubts that Coats could have a museum. It did-not one -but a Theater Room, a Research Library, a Cotton Museum and an Exhibit Hall. There is even talk about adding a second exhibit hall because of the great number of items that continue to be donated to the museum. Awesome items are turned away because there is nowhere to place them in the museum or to store them.
People have been so generous to the Coats Museum and the family of H.L Sorrell continues to be awed by the honor that people continue to show him by donating to the museum. A special thank you goes to one of his former students and fellow Kiwanian-Jennifer Flowers- for her generous museum donation last week. I was glad to memorialize Wanda McLeod as did Ralph and Lorena Denning and Robie and Lynda Butler also. Ann Jones gave a donation in memory and honor of members of the Coats Woman’s Club. Thank you goes to all these friends of the museum.
It was September of 1992 and the November elections were only a few weeks away when the CACC Business Focus of the Week was focused on the Byrd’s Insurance Agency. Teddy Byrd, after a period in the Armed Forces, took over the insurance office of Nationwide in Coats. It was previously owned and managed by Grady Matthews since the 1950’s. Byrd took over the ownership in 1989. In 1990, the agency qualified for the Champion Award. Shirley Flowers had served as office manager for nine years. Ramon Sullivan was customer service representative. Patsy Carson operated the Erwin area. Byrd is married to Shelia Matthews Byrd and they have two children-Samantha and Alexander (Daily Record Sept. 22, 1992).
What fun the people on Brickmill Road must have had at Buddy and Julia Gregory’s house. The couple had hosted a block party with pig and chicken barbeque plus all the trimmings. Maybe all the games of volleyball, horseshoes, badminton, and bingo helped burn the calories from eating the homemade ice cream, cakes, and other goodies. Others who helped with the hosting wee Roscoe and Jean Williams, Joey and Barbara Pollard, Mitchell and Liza Clayton. What fun the 55 people must have had.
News was that Mrs. Lucy Weaver was much better and Willis Pope had suffered extensive injuries when a car hit him as he was crossing the road at a friend’s house. Little Justin Ryals was home after a few days in the hospital. Kathy Denning and Lynwood were honored on their 25th wedding anniversary. The party was at Mrs. Doc Denning’s house (Daily Record Sept. 24, 1992).
Death came and took Jessie McNeill, 68, of Route One, Coats, had died at the GHH in Erwin. Services were at Mt. Pisgah, FWB Church by Rev. Reginald Hinton. His burial was in the Resthaven Cemetery in Dunn. His wife, Hattie McNeill, his son Connell McNeill, and four daughters Doris Fay Thomas, Janice Gunn, Jesse Mae Spearman and Estella McNeill survived him (Daily Record Sept. 29, 1992).
Linda Rae Williams, 63, of Coats, had died on Tuesday at the Golden years Nursing Home in Falcon. Miss Williams was the daughter of the late Jeppie T. Williams. Her services were held at the Cromartie-Miller and Lee Funeral Home Chapel. Her burial was at the Stewart Cemetery near Coats off Highway 55. Linda was survived by her mother, Alice Gregory Williams; two sisters-Hazel Roberts and Faye Gautier and two brothers-Harold and Stacy Williams (Daily Record Sept. 30, 1992). I always enjoyed Linda’s sister-in law Judy Williams talking about Linda with such love.
Patty Godwin and Linda Mangum moved from their shop “County Salon” on NC 27 Main Street to the shop vacated by pat Godwin’s Hair Designs by Pat”. Question -was this the site of the T.O. Beasley Barber Shop back in the day? Was there a mural painted on the wall and did Fleetwood Adams barber there later?
I do know that there was a lot of celebrating going on in Coats. Amy Cutts and Wilma Byrd had celebrated birthdays. Amy went to Virginia Beach and Wilma‘s family honored her at the Western Sizzlin. Gene Stewart and Mary celebrated their 50th anniversary at the Coats Senior Center. Godfrey and Ann Beasley, Hayes and Dovie Beasley, Billy and Peggie Pope had returned from a six-week cross country vacation (Daily Record Oct. 1, 1992).
The Coats Area Chamber of Commerce paid tribute to the Coats Elementary employees. There were 41 teachers and 12 assistant teachers on staff. The main feature was to recognize Carolyn Broadwell as the Coats Teacher of the Year. Carolyn had taught in Coats for 16 years and was married to Coy Broadwell, a former vocational agricultural at Coats. Carolyn was a CU graduate and a member of the honorary Alpha Delta Kappa Gamma Pi Sorority (Daily Record Oct. 2, 1992).
All kinds of activities were going on at the Coats Senior Center but according to Belle in her Notes from Coats, there were many who were not able to be a part of the activity because of illnesses. The ones she named were Greg Stevens, Coma Lee Currin, Willis Pope, John Mack Ferrell, Shirley Faye Hayes, Clyde McLeod, and Larkin Norris (Daily Record Oct. 8, 1992).
The CACC had placed a special commendation on a business that had the longest tenure of all businesses in the area and one the oldest in the state. The company was started in 1917 by Dr. Harry C. Roberts. Roberts was the father of Dr. Clarence Roberts of Dunn and the late Haywood Roberts of Coats. Guy Stewart was the company’s bookkeeper and manager. The company began as a Ford Agency but switched over to a Chrysler dealership after Stewart bought out the interest of Dr. Harry Roberts. The Ford Agency ended in 1933 but was owned by Stewart since 1923. The company passed from Guy Stewart to his son Eugene and then to his son Don Stewart. The five-star Service Quality Award, Chrysler ‘s top award had been given to the Coats Motor Company every year since 1985 (Daily Record Oct. 12, 1992).
Death once again visited Coats and took one of its oldest citizens-Hester Williams, 87, of Route One, Coats. He had died Monday in the Harnett Manor. The retired farmer was the son of the late William Graymon Powell and Tilitha Whitman. He was a member of the Gift Primitive Baptist Church. His services were at the Rose and Graham Funeral Chapel in Coats. Burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving his were his wife Louise Griffin Williams; two sons-Willard Williams and Sherwood Williams; and one daughter, Greta Mitchell. Eula Byrd was his sister (Daily Record Oct. 13, 1992).
Tidbits of local news shared that Kenneth Ennis had a surprise party given to him to honor his fiftieth birthday. His parents-Chester and Edna Ennis were the hosts to their son’s big night at Ron’s Barn. James Little, Ann Little, Johnny Morgan and Penny took in all the historical places such as Lookout Mountain, and Chickamauga. Ann’s daughter, Kelly Stone, was a senior at UNC Wilmington.
Tickets for $25 were being sold to raise money for refurbishing the old school into a Coats Museum. Julia Stewart reported that brick sales went well as the Farmers Day (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1992).
That was a bit of news about the Coats Museum from 31 years ago. A few had their doubts that Coats could have a museum. It did-not one -but a Theater Room, a Research Library, a Cotton Museum and an Exhibit Hall. There is even talk about adding a second exhibit hall because of the great number of items that continue to be donated to the museum. Awesome items are turned away because there is nowhere to place them in the museum or to store them.
People have been so generous to the Coats Museum and the family of H.L Sorrell continues to be awed by the honor that people continue to show him by donating to the museum. A special thank you goes to one of his former students and fellow Kiwanian-Jennifer Flowers- for her generous museum donation last week. I was glad to memorialize Wanda McLeod as did Ralph and Lorena Denning and Robie and Lynda Butler also. Ann Jones gave a donation in memory and honor of members of the Coats Woman’s Club. Thank you goes to all these friends of the museum.