May 29, 2020 Coats Museum News
The calendar displayed August 1984 and the news shared the first conviction of a sitting federal judge, Nevada’s chief US district judge, Harry Claiborne, was convicted on tax evasion charges. During an off-air radio voice check, President Reagan joked, “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” The twenty-third Olympic Games ended in Los Angeles with a record attendance of 5.5 million people despite a Soviet-led boycott (Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail. Massachusetts: Federal Street Press, 1999, p.273).
In Coats, the CACC honored McKnight’s Drug Store. David McKnight was manager and full time druggist. L.E. McKnight began the drug store in 1950. David McKnight was a third generation druggist (DailyRecord August 3, 1984).
Bill Pope’s Council raised over 6 million dollars for the Advancement Council of Campbell University. Campbell would now begin Phase II of its seven-year plan to raise $40 million for the university by January 5, 1987, the 100th anniversary of the school. William “Bill” served as a member of the Campbell’s Presidential Board of Advisors (Daily Record Aug. 18, 1984).
Another “Pope” made the news. Beth Pope, 18, was the current Miss Coats Jr. Order. Beth was the daughter of Bobby and Margaret Pope of Route 1, Coats (Daily Record Aug. 9. 1984).
Death visited the Penny family and took Talmon Henry Penny, 75, of Route 1, Coats. He had died on Wednesday. His funeral was held at the Coats Baptist Church with burial in the Devotional Gardens. Surviving him were his wife, Mavor Williams Penny; two sons-Ted and Kenneth and siblings-Joe, Jr., Edwin, Howard, Haywood, Maude Sorrell, Nell Williams and Grace Carroll (Daily Record Aug. 10, 1984). Talmon had two deceased siblings-Roy and Eloise Jones.
The CACC recognized Ennis Agriculture Supply as the Business Focus of the Week. The business was owned by Warren Ennis, president; Terry Ennis, vice president; and Alice and Donna Ennis, secretary and bookkeeper. Preston Johnson was a full time employee of the business that was located on-fourth mile south of Coats (Daily Record Aug. 15, 1984).
William Walter Stewart, 52, of Coats, had died on Monday. Services were held at the Coats Church of God. The Stewart Family Cemetery was the burial site. His wife, Ruth Norris Stewart; two sons-William and Timothy and one daughter –Sue S. Johnson survived him as did siblings-Charles Edwin, J.T. and Mavis (Daily Record Aug. 21, 1984).
Tim Brown was promoted as city executive of First Citizens Bank of Coats. He was president of the Hunting and Fishing Club., first Vice president of Lions Club, and on the board of directors of the CACC. Elsewhere, J.W. Sorrell, Sr. celebrated his 96th birthday (Daily Record Aug. 27, 1984).
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Bradshaw, Sr. of Route 4, Dunn, announced the engagement of their daughter Kimberly Ann Bradshaw to Jerry Lee Coats, son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Coats (Daily Record Aug. 31, 1984).
Maynard Barnes, president of Barnes Lee Chevrolet Company in Benson had received a plaque of appreciation for outstanding community service from H.L. Sorrell, Jr., Coordinator of Drivers Education and Traffic safety in Harnett County (Daily Record Sept. 3, 1984). Does anyone remember learning to drive in one of those leased cars from Barnes and Lee?
At school, Billy Ray Turner was very optimistic about his football team -Manuel Hayes, Curtis Patterson, Dale Gregory, Gabriel Knittle, Greg Varner, Derrick Liles, Sylvester Shaw, Hughie Stewart, Daryll McDuffie, Richard Bryant, Nero Gilbert, Tim Stevens, Terry Dibella, Douglas Blue, Will Pope, Gary Matthews, Toby Stevens, Dion Blue and Keith Lemon (Daily Record Sept. 5, 1984).
Dathan E. Flowers, 65, retired carpenter, of Angier, had died on Thursday. His wife, Mrs. Lera Gardner Flowers, three daughters-Mrs. Glenda McLeod, Miss Jennifer Flowers, and Mrs. Gail Regan – survived him. Fletcher Flowers was his brother.
Another death was announced in the same Daily Record Sept. 7, 1984 edition. Richard Darwin Whittington, 28, of New Bern had died on Thursday morning from injuries he received in an automobile accident. He had attended Coats School but later graduated from New Bern High School. Funeral services were held at Pollock-Wells and Best Funeral Home Chapel in New Bern. Greenwood Cemetery in Dunn was the burial site. Surviving Mr. Whittington was Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Whittington of New Bern; a brother Frederick M. and a sister Ann Whittington. His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Millard Whittington of Coats.
Nuna Blackwelder, 87, of Coats had died on Saturday, September 8th. Surviving her was a daughter-Mrs. Lucille Cooke of Cary and two sons-David of Coats and Johnny Blackwelder of Greensboro. Burial was in the Williams Cemetery (Daily Record Sept. 10, 1984).
A wonderful story was shared about Nuna’s husband, Richard Blackwelder. He was a blacksmith and one day when he was nailing a shoe on a very frisky mule (or horse), one of the nails went into Rich’s leg and cut it badly. Eugene Stewart happened to go by the shop when Mr. Blackwelder was sewing up the cut himself. Eugene inquired why he did not go to the doctor for him to sew up the cut. Rich replied that it would hurt just as bad if the doctor sewed him up and he would charge a dollar a stitch to do it (Eugene Stewart 2004).
The Coats Class of 1944 had it 40th Class Reunion at the William C. Lee Room in the Holiday Inn in Dunn. Mrs. Edna Grimes West had been the class president and Teeny Stewart Upchurch was class vice president. The following members were in attendance: Mrs. Justin Barbour Morris, Watson Byrd, Mrs. Edna Elmore Jones, Wilma Ennis McInturff, Hazel Gregory Smith, Edna Pearl Grimes West, Mary Harmon Ennis, Ruth Langdon Barefoot, Grace Matthews Dixon, D.J. McLamb, Christine Neighbors Cole, Hazel Pope Tart, Graymon and Willa Dean Pope Powell, Melrose Rhiner Brooks, Dorothy Sorrell Walton, Rachel Stephenson Ennis, Teeny Stewart Upchurch, Juanita Tart Harris, Betty Williams Hunter and Patty Wright Fleming (Daily Record Sept. 10, 1984).
The Coats Woman’s Club held its first meeting of the year at the home of Florine Penny with Joyce Stewart as co-hostess. The members who attended were Mrs. Amy Brown, Mrs. Joanne Pope, Mrs. Mary Langdon, Mrs. Laura Langdon, Mrs. Mary Jo Mann, Mrs. Linda Massengill, Mrs. Katherine Phillips, Mrs. Mary Stevens, and Mrs. Ruth Upchurch (Daily Record Sept. 13, 1984).
The Langdon families in Barclaysville had reason to celebrate. Dudley and Teresa Lee Langdon were parents of a daughter-Alia Kelly Langdon. Grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Daywood Langdon and great-grandmother Mrs. Lexter M. Langdon (Daily Record Sept. 14, 1984).
The CACC honored the First Citizens Bank as the Business Focus of the Week. Dr. C.G. Fuquay, Owen Odum, W.E. Nichols, Vic Lee, Haywood Roberts, Guy Stewart, Herbert Johnson, Marvin Johnson, and M.O. Phillips were among those who had presented the request to R.P. Holding, Sr. of the First Citizens Bank and Trust Company (Daily Record Sept. 19, 1984). Do you know what year these businessmen made the request?
I do know that fall was only a few days away and football was on the minds of the school students. Especially excited had to be the Coats team after they had defeated Wayne County Day players. Freddie McDuffie, Jerry Lee, Mark Williams, Gary Matthews and Toby Stevens played extremely well according to the Daily Record Sept. 24, 1984 edition.
Johnson and Norris Real Estate and Auctioneer Co. was selected as the CACC Business of the Week. Herbert Johnson and David Norris were partners in the business located on Main Street in Coats.
Mr. and Mrs. John Moore had celebrated their 50th anniversary on September 23 at the Coats Community Building. Mr. and Mrs. Don Denton and Mr. and Mrs. James Earl Moore hosted the event. Mr. Moore was the son of the late Susan and Sir Will Moore and Mrs. Moore was the daughter of the late Annie and Jim Pleasant (Daily Record Oct. 2, 1984).
An engagement made the Daily Record Oct. 5, 1984 edition when it was printed that Gwen Bass was to marry Donnie Carson Smith. Gwen was the daughter of Mrs. Jackie W. Bass and the late Graham Bass. Mr. Smith was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allie Ray Smith of Dunn.
April Lea Fowler was crowned Junior Miss Erwin-Denim. Second runner-up was Vannesa Jo Dorman (Daily Record Oct. 8, 1984).
Lloyd H. Stephenson competed in a world contest of tobacco auctioneers. Auctioneers chanted a lightning 400 to 500 words per minutes to sell the tobacco leaf (Daily Record Oct. 9, 1984). Folks, this is the husband of Mary Stephenson who taught school at Coats and Angier schools. She taught elementary classes but also had degrees in home economics and chemistry from Flora McDonald College. It was not a surprise to read that she was a Harnett County Teacher of the Year during her teaching career.
Parents and youngsters were excited about the first Little Miss Coats pageant. There were eighteen contestants from ages five and six from all areas of Coats The little girls were Emily Allen, Julia Barbour, Lori Barnes, Irene Beasley, Jennifer Booth, Hiliary Brown, Melissa Byrd, Lindy Denning, Tiffany Denton, Tonya Denton, Allison Langdon, Cyrstal Maynor, Myrandi Messer, Angie McLeod, Kelly Nordan, Kacey Partin, Elizabeth Royals and Rebecca Williams (Daily Record Oct. 10, 1984).
The Daily Record Oct. 12, 1984 edition wrote the “Beautiful Shannon Lucas” of Coats prepared her horse for the annual Coats Farmer’s Day and Wagon Train. Shannon was the daughter of Roger and Janice Lucas who were longtime leaders of the Wagon Train.
Polly Denton Sorrell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Denton, was engaged to marry Mark Lansing Byrd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Byrd of rural Coats. Both were graduates of Coats High School (Daily Record Oct.1 4, 1984).
J.C. Hawley, principal of Coats High, announced that Mark Edward Langdon had been designated as semi-finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1984).
James B. Hunt, Sr., a retired farmer of Wilson, rode in the Coats Farmer’s Day Parade. He was promoting his son, Gov. Jim Hunt, for the US Senate seat (Daily Record Oct. 16, 1984).
Mrs. Eloise Johnson Brown, of rural Rhonda, NC had died on Saturday. She was a 1961 Coats High graduate and a 1965 graduate of ECU at Greenville. She had taught in Harnett, Rowan, and Ronda-Clingman Elementary Schools. Surviving her were her husband Robert C. Brown and three sons-Jeff, Mike and Jeremy Brown. Her father was Herbert L. Johnson and step-mother Margaret P Johnson. Her grandmother was Mrs. Clara Hinton Eason and sisters were Norma J. Mathis and Mary Ellen Johnson (Daily Record Oct. 17, 1984).
Supporters continue to be generous to the museum. A big thank you goes to Mike and Claudia Tocci from Sparks, NV for their donation which will help pay for our new windows and thanks to Hilda Pope and Linda Cobb for memorializing Don and Willie Joe Sorrell by giving to the Coats Museum.
The calendar displayed August 1984 and the news shared the first conviction of a sitting federal judge, Nevada’s chief US district judge, Harry Claiborne, was convicted on tax evasion charges. During an off-air radio voice check, President Reagan joked, “My fellow Americans, I’m pleased to tell you that I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” The twenty-third Olympic Games ended in Los Angeles with a record attendance of 5.5 million people despite a Soviet-led boycott (Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail. Massachusetts: Federal Street Press, 1999, p.273).
In Coats, the CACC honored McKnight’s Drug Store. David McKnight was manager and full time druggist. L.E. McKnight began the drug store in 1950. David McKnight was a third generation druggist (DailyRecord August 3, 1984).
Bill Pope’s Council raised over 6 million dollars for the Advancement Council of Campbell University. Campbell would now begin Phase II of its seven-year plan to raise $40 million for the university by January 5, 1987, the 100th anniversary of the school. William “Bill” served as a member of the Campbell’s Presidential Board of Advisors (Daily Record Aug. 18, 1984).
Another “Pope” made the news. Beth Pope, 18, was the current Miss Coats Jr. Order. Beth was the daughter of Bobby and Margaret Pope of Route 1, Coats (Daily Record Aug. 9. 1984).
Death visited the Penny family and took Talmon Henry Penny, 75, of Route 1, Coats. He had died on Wednesday. His funeral was held at the Coats Baptist Church with burial in the Devotional Gardens. Surviving him were his wife, Mavor Williams Penny; two sons-Ted and Kenneth and siblings-Joe, Jr., Edwin, Howard, Haywood, Maude Sorrell, Nell Williams and Grace Carroll (Daily Record Aug. 10, 1984). Talmon had two deceased siblings-Roy and Eloise Jones.
The CACC recognized Ennis Agriculture Supply as the Business Focus of the Week. The business was owned by Warren Ennis, president; Terry Ennis, vice president; and Alice and Donna Ennis, secretary and bookkeeper. Preston Johnson was a full time employee of the business that was located on-fourth mile south of Coats (Daily Record Aug. 15, 1984).
William Walter Stewart, 52, of Coats, had died on Monday. Services were held at the Coats Church of God. The Stewart Family Cemetery was the burial site. His wife, Ruth Norris Stewart; two sons-William and Timothy and one daughter –Sue S. Johnson survived him as did siblings-Charles Edwin, J.T. and Mavis (Daily Record Aug. 21, 1984).
Tim Brown was promoted as city executive of First Citizens Bank of Coats. He was president of the Hunting and Fishing Club., first Vice president of Lions Club, and on the board of directors of the CACC. Elsewhere, J.W. Sorrell, Sr. celebrated his 96th birthday (Daily Record Aug. 27, 1984).
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Bradshaw, Sr. of Route 4, Dunn, announced the engagement of their daughter Kimberly Ann Bradshaw to Jerry Lee Coats, son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Coats (Daily Record Aug. 31, 1984).
Maynard Barnes, president of Barnes Lee Chevrolet Company in Benson had received a plaque of appreciation for outstanding community service from H.L. Sorrell, Jr., Coordinator of Drivers Education and Traffic safety in Harnett County (Daily Record Sept. 3, 1984). Does anyone remember learning to drive in one of those leased cars from Barnes and Lee?
At school, Billy Ray Turner was very optimistic about his football team -Manuel Hayes, Curtis Patterson, Dale Gregory, Gabriel Knittle, Greg Varner, Derrick Liles, Sylvester Shaw, Hughie Stewart, Daryll McDuffie, Richard Bryant, Nero Gilbert, Tim Stevens, Terry Dibella, Douglas Blue, Will Pope, Gary Matthews, Toby Stevens, Dion Blue and Keith Lemon (Daily Record Sept. 5, 1984).
Dathan E. Flowers, 65, retired carpenter, of Angier, had died on Thursday. His wife, Mrs. Lera Gardner Flowers, three daughters-Mrs. Glenda McLeod, Miss Jennifer Flowers, and Mrs. Gail Regan – survived him. Fletcher Flowers was his brother.
Another death was announced in the same Daily Record Sept. 7, 1984 edition. Richard Darwin Whittington, 28, of New Bern had died on Thursday morning from injuries he received in an automobile accident. He had attended Coats School but later graduated from New Bern High School. Funeral services were held at Pollock-Wells and Best Funeral Home Chapel in New Bern. Greenwood Cemetery in Dunn was the burial site. Surviving Mr. Whittington was Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Whittington of New Bern; a brother Frederick M. and a sister Ann Whittington. His grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Millard Whittington of Coats.
Nuna Blackwelder, 87, of Coats had died on Saturday, September 8th. Surviving her was a daughter-Mrs. Lucille Cooke of Cary and two sons-David of Coats and Johnny Blackwelder of Greensboro. Burial was in the Williams Cemetery (Daily Record Sept. 10, 1984).
A wonderful story was shared about Nuna’s husband, Richard Blackwelder. He was a blacksmith and one day when he was nailing a shoe on a very frisky mule (or horse), one of the nails went into Rich’s leg and cut it badly. Eugene Stewart happened to go by the shop when Mr. Blackwelder was sewing up the cut himself. Eugene inquired why he did not go to the doctor for him to sew up the cut. Rich replied that it would hurt just as bad if the doctor sewed him up and he would charge a dollar a stitch to do it (Eugene Stewart 2004).
The Coats Class of 1944 had it 40th Class Reunion at the William C. Lee Room in the Holiday Inn in Dunn. Mrs. Edna Grimes West had been the class president and Teeny Stewart Upchurch was class vice president. The following members were in attendance: Mrs. Justin Barbour Morris, Watson Byrd, Mrs. Edna Elmore Jones, Wilma Ennis McInturff, Hazel Gregory Smith, Edna Pearl Grimes West, Mary Harmon Ennis, Ruth Langdon Barefoot, Grace Matthews Dixon, D.J. McLamb, Christine Neighbors Cole, Hazel Pope Tart, Graymon and Willa Dean Pope Powell, Melrose Rhiner Brooks, Dorothy Sorrell Walton, Rachel Stephenson Ennis, Teeny Stewart Upchurch, Juanita Tart Harris, Betty Williams Hunter and Patty Wright Fleming (Daily Record Sept. 10, 1984).
The Coats Woman’s Club held its first meeting of the year at the home of Florine Penny with Joyce Stewart as co-hostess. The members who attended were Mrs. Amy Brown, Mrs. Joanne Pope, Mrs. Mary Langdon, Mrs. Laura Langdon, Mrs. Mary Jo Mann, Mrs. Linda Massengill, Mrs. Katherine Phillips, Mrs. Mary Stevens, and Mrs. Ruth Upchurch (Daily Record Sept. 13, 1984).
The Langdon families in Barclaysville had reason to celebrate. Dudley and Teresa Lee Langdon were parents of a daughter-Alia Kelly Langdon. Grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Daywood Langdon and great-grandmother Mrs. Lexter M. Langdon (Daily Record Sept. 14, 1984).
The CACC honored the First Citizens Bank as the Business Focus of the Week. Dr. C.G. Fuquay, Owen Odum, W.E. Nichols, Vic Lee, Haywood Roberts, Guy Stewart, Herbert Johnson, Marvin Johnson, and M.O. Phillips were among those who had presented the request to R.P. Holding, Sr. of the First Citizens Bank and Trust Company (Daily Record Sept. 19, 1984). Do you know what year these businessmen made the request?
I do know that fall was only a few days away and football was on the minds of the school students. Especially excited had to be the Coats team after they had defeated Wayne County Day players. Freddie McDuffie, Jerry Lee, Mark Williams, Gary Matthews and Toby Stevens played extremely well according to the Daily Record Sept. 24, 1984 edition.
Johnson and Norris Real Estate and Auctioneer Co. was selected as the CACC Business of the Week. Herbert Johnson and David Norris were partners in the business located on Main Street in Coats.
Mr. and Mrs. John Moore had celebrated their 50th anniversary on September 23 at the Coats Community Building. Mr. and Mrs. Don Denton and Mr. and Mrs. James Earl Moore hosted the event. Mr. Moore was the son of the late Susan and Sir Will Moore and Mrs. Moore was the daughter of the late Annie and Jim Pleasant (Daily Record Oct. 2, 1984).
An engagement made the Daily Record Oct. 5, 1984 edition when it was printed that Gwen Bass was to marry Donnie Carson Smith. Gwen was the daughter of Mrs. Jackie W. Bass and the late Graham Bass. Mr. Smith was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Allie Ray Smith of Dunn.
April Lea Fowler was crowned Junior Miss Erwin-Denim. Second runner-up was Vannesa Jo Dorman (Daily Record Oct. 8, 1984).
Lloyd H. Stephenson competed in a world contest of tobacco auctioneers. Auctioneers chanted a lightning 400 to 500 words per minutes to sell the tobacco leaf (Daily Record Oct. 9, 1984). Folks, this is the husband of Mary Stephenson who taught school at Coats and Angier schools. She taught elementary classes but also had degrees in home economics and chemistry from Flora McDonald College. It was not a surprise to read that she was a Harnett County Teacher of the Year during her teaching career.
Parents and youngsters were excited about the first Little Miss Coats pageant. There were eighteen contestants from ages five and six from all areas of Coats The little girls were Emily Allen, Julia Barbour, Lori Barnes, Irene Beasley, Jennifer Booth, Hiliary Brown, Melissa Byrd, Lindy Denning, Tiffany Denton, Tonya Denton, Allison Langdon, Cyrstal Maynor, Myrandi Messer, Angie McLeod, Kelly Nordan, Kacey Partin, Elizabeth Royals and Rebecca Williams (Daily Record Oct. 10, 1984).
The Daily Record Oct. 12, 1984 edition wrote the “Beautiful Shannon Lucas” of Coats prepared her horse for the annual Coats Farmer’s Day and Wagon Train. Shannon was the daughter of Roger and Janice Lucas who were longtime leaders of the Wagon Train.
Polly Denton Sorrell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Denton, was engaged to marry Mark Lansing Byrd, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Byrd of rural Coats. Both were graduates of Coats High School (Daily Record Oct.1 4, 1984).
J.C. Hawley, principal of Coats High, announced that Mark Edward Langdon had been designated as semi-finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (Daily Record Oct. 15, 1984).
James B. Hunt, Sr., a retired farmer of Wilson, rode in the Coats Farmer’s Day Parade. He was promoting his son, Gov. Jim Hunt, for the US Senate seat (Daily Record Oct. 16, 1984).
Mrs. Eloise Johnson Brown, of rural Rhonda, NC had died on Saturday. She was a 1961 Coats High graduate and a 1965 graduate of ECU at Greenville. She had taught in Harnett, Rowan, and Ronda-Clingman Elementary Schools. Surviving her were her husband Robert C. Brown and three sons-Jeff, Mike and Jeremy Brown. Her father was Herbert L. Johnson and step-mother Margaret P Johnson. Her grandmother was Mrs. Clara Hinton Eason and sisters were Norma J. Mathis and Mary Ellen Johnson (Daily Record Oct. 17, 1984).
Supporters continue to be generous to the museum. A big thank you goes to Mike and Claudia Tocci from Sparks, NV for their donation which will help pay for our new windows and thanks to Hilda Pope and Linda Cobb for memorializing Don and Willie Joe Sorrell by giving to the Coats Museum.