November 20, 2020 Coats Museum News
The season was winter in Coats when the CACC recognized Wade’s Restaurant as the Business Focus of the Week. One of the highlights of the restaurant was the breakfast hour. Usually around 200 individuals gathered for food and fellowship. The restaurant was also known for its barbecue as it had been since it opened in 1932 as Luke’s Grill.
Did any of you have relatives visiting from out of state who would swing by this restaurant and carry a few pounds of the barbecue home with them? All of my sisters lived out of state and names I recall hearing them mention were Luke’s, Zola’s and Sauls. Do you recognize those names?
I do know that it was shared that Amy Neighbors, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Neighbors, Jr. celebrated her third birthday with a Care Bears theme. Those attending were Grandmother Doris Neighbors, Sandy and Kelly Bridges, Margaret, Hope and Christopher Carroll, Terry and Amy Darling, Joey Denning, LaDene, Misty and Brandy Wrench, Phyllis Stewart, Julia and Shannon Fuquay, Renee and Kimberly Neighbors. How old is Amy today?
While some were celebrating birthdays, others were attending funerals such as the one for Mr. Neal Norris, of Route One, Coats. The seventy-four year-old retired farmer was the son of the late Henry and Minnie Messer Norris. He was survived by brothers-Dade and Ed Norris; sisters-Mrs. Mamie N. Moore and Mrs. Leola N. Whitman.
Also reported as deceased was Mrs. Hattie Barbour Johnson, 76, of Route 3, Benson. She was survived by her husband, Aaron Johnson. Her son was J. Benton Ennis and daughter was Mrs. Doris E. Pleasant. Her stepdaughters were Mrs. Lela Bowling and Sue Rhodes and stepson Joseph Aaron Johnson. Mrs. Johnson’s brothers were Rudolph, Shelton and Ed Barbour and sisters were Mrs. Lilllie Wiggins, Mrs. Ruth Lassiter, Mrs. Velma Wheeler and Mrs. Brunie Lucas.
Yet another death touched the community. Mr. Charlie E. Whitman, 85, of Coats. He was a farmer and former worker at the Burlington Industries. He was survived by his wife, Ada Norris Whitman. His sons were Shelton, Robert, Waitus Whitman and daughters-Mrs. Charles Pope, Madeline Parnell, Betty Lou Manning, Mrs. Franklin Temple, and Mrs. Gary. L. Howman.
Graveside services were held for James Dalmar Mitchell, 82, of Route 1, Coats. He was a retired farmer and the son of the late Dallas Mitchell and Rena Brown Mitchell. Another Coats woman died. Mrs. Lula McNeill Colvin, 79, was survived by two sisters who were not noted in the paper.
Let’s insert some pleasant news amongst all the obituaries. The Sorrell family had cause to celebrate. Mrs. Nettie Sorrell was 85 years old and the family and relatives honored her with a party.
Good news also came to the area when it was announced that a Coats native, Elizabeth Howard, was elected president of her freshman class at Chowan College. Miss Howard was the daughter of Charles Barrett Howard, Jr. of Route One, Coats. Beverley Weeks Howard is her stepmom.
Funeral services were held for Mac Duffie McKoy, Jr., 61, of Coats. He was survived by his wife, Rebecca W. McKoy. His daughters were Brenda Alston, Ann McKoy, and Geraldine Wilson. Donald, Roy, and Dennis McKoy were his sons. Julia Bertha McKoy was his mother.
From researching and then compiling the military records of those individuals who served in the military from the Grove area, we found that Mack Duffie McKoy was born on March 1, 1924 in Coats. He enlisted in the US Army on January 16, 1943 and achieved the rank PFC. He was qualified with the MM 30 Cal Carbine and his occupational specialty was Truck Driver. The left for the European Theater of operations on March 28, 1945 and returned to the USA on March 3, 1946. He was awarded the American Theater Service Medal; EAME Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. He separated from service on March 9, 1946 (2018 First Edition of the Defenders of the Red, White and Blue).
Elders Sexton Pope and Fred Williams were preparing to officiate at the service for Ernest Edward Ennis, 89, a retired farmer. William Allie Williams, 73, of Route 1, Coats, was also listed in the obituaries of the Daily Record. He was the son of the late Levi and Ando Cassandra Poole Williams. He was survived by his wife, Nellie Baird Williams; sons- Mack Ray and Richard; daughters-Dorothy Robinson, Janet Young, Louise Loyd and Carol Brown. His brother was Lee Williams and sisters were Esther Stone, Dora Denning and Enie (?)Morgan. Rev. Ralph O. Byrd conducted the funeral and burial was in the Williams Family Cemetery. Wanda Moody is my go to person for information on this family—thanks Wanda.
A special thank you goes to David Barnes, a friend of the Coats Museum, who has added a new video to our coatsmuseum.com website. Andy Cole and Lynda Butler recorded a tour of the museum exhibit hall displays for those who choose not to mingle far from their homes. Enjoy the tour because the “Camp Followers “Exhibit in the hall will be replaced by a Boy Scouts exhibit when the pandemic is more under control.
Enjoyed hearing from several readers who had information about Miss Esther Ricks. Dana Coats Byrd had Miss Ricks in a fifth –sixth grade combination class and has a picture she took of Miss Ricks as well as some fond memories of the John Audubon Bird Club. Phyllis Hardison from Dunn attends the Hood Memorial Church. She said Rev. Frank Leggett was pastor there for eleven years and that Miss Esther Ricks was his aunt. Phyliss recalled that Miss Ricks was originally from Pantego , near Little Washington. Esther’s great-niece thinks that Miss Ricks attended Atlantic College. We are going to research to find her gravesite.
Thanks to both of these ladies for sharing and reading the Coats Museum News. Thanks also goes to J.B. and Lenee Smith for giving a memorial to honor Stacey Johnson, Sr. The generosity of so many folks giving to the museum has warmed our hearts during this restrictive pandemic.
The season was winter in Coats when the CACC recognized Wade’s Restaurant as the Business Focus of the Week. One of the highlights of the restaurant was the breakfast hour. Usually around 200 individuals gathered for food and fellowship. The restaurant was also known for its barbecue as it had been since it opened in 1932 as Luke’s Grill.
Did any of you have relatives visiting from out of state who would swing by this restaurant and carry a few pounds of the barbecue home with them? All of my sisters lived out of state and names I recall hearing them mention were Luke’s, Zola’s and Sauls. Do you recognize those names?
I do know that it was shared that Amy Neighbors, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Neighbors, Jr. celebrated her third birthday with a Care Bears theme. Those attending were Grandmother Doris Neighbors, Sandy and Kelly Bridges, Margaret, Hope and Christopher Carroll, Terry and Amy Darling, Joey Denning, LaDene, Misty and Brandy Wrench, Phyllis Stewart, Julia and Shannon Fuquay, Renee and Kimberly Neighbors. How old is Amy today?
While some were celebrating birthdays, others were attending funerals such as the one for Mr. Neal Norris, of Route One, Coats. The seventy-four year-old retired farmer was the son of the late Henry and Minnie Messer Norris. He was survived by brothers-Dade and Ed Norris; sisters-Mrs. Mamie N. Moore and Mrs. Leola N. Whitman.
Also reported as deceased was Mrs. Hattie Barbour Johnson, 76, of Route 3, Benson. She was survived by her husband, Aaron Johnson. Her son was J. Benton Ennis and daughter was Mrs. Doris E. Pleasant. Her stepdaughters were Mrs. Lela Bowling and Sue Rhodes and stepson Joseph Aaron Johnson. Mrs. Johnson’s brothers were Rudolph, Shelton and Ed Barbour and sisters were Mrs. Lilllie Wiggins, Mrs. Ruth Lassiter, Mrs. Velma Wheeler and Mrs. Brunie Lucas.
Yet another death touched the community. Mr. Charlie E. Whitman, 85, of Coats. He was a farmer and former worker at the Burlington Industries. He was survived by his wife, Ada Norris Whitman. His sons were Shelton, Robert, Waitus Whitman and daughters-Mrs. Charles Pope, Madeline Parnell, Betty Lou Manning, Mrs. Franklin Temple, and Mrs. Gary. L. Howman.
Graveside services were held for James Dalmar Mitchell, 82, of Route 1, Coats. He was a retired farmer and the son of the late Dallas Mitchell and Rena Brown Mitchell. Another Coats woman died. Mrs. Lula McNeill Colvin, 79, was survived by two sisters who were not noted in the paper.
Let’s insert some pleasant news amongst all the obituaries. The Sorrell family had cause to celebrate. Mrs. Nettie Sorrell was 85 years old and the family and relatives honored her with a party.
Good news also came to the area when it was announced that a Coats native, Elizabeth Howard, was elected president of her freshman class at Chowan College. Miss Howard was the daughter of Charles Barrett Howard, Jr. of Route One, Coats. Beverley Weeks Howard is her stepmom.
Funeral services were held for Mac Duffie McKoy, Jr., 61, of Coats. He was survived by his wife, Rebecca W. McKoy. His daughters were Brenda Alston, Ann McKoy, and Geraldine Wilson. Donald, Roy, and Dennis McKoy were his sons. Julia Bertha McKoy was his mother.
From researching and then compiling the military records of those individuals who served in the military from the Grove area, we found that Mack Duffie McKoy was born on March 1, 1924 in Coats. He enlisted in the US Army on January 16, 1943 and achieved the rank PFC. He was qualified with the MM 30 Cal Carbine and his occupational specialty was Truck Driver. The left for the European Theater of operations on March 28, 1945 and returned to the USA on March 3, 1946. He was awarded the American Theater Service Medal; EAME Service Medal; Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. He separated from service on March 9, 1946 (2018 First Edition of the Defenders of the Red, White and Blue).
Elders Sexton Pope and Fred Williams were preparing to officiate at the service for Ernest Edward Ennis, 89, a retired farmer. William Allie Williams, 73, of Route 1, Coats, was also listed in the obituaries of the Daily Record. He was the son of the late Levi and Ando Cassandra Poole Williams. He was survived by his wife, Nellie Baird Williams; sons- Mack Ray and Richard; daughters-Dorothy Robinson, Janet Young, Louise Loyd and Carol Brown. His brother was Lee Williams and sisters were Esther Stone, Dora Denning and Enie (?)Morgan. Rev. Ralph O. Byrd conducted the funeral and burial was in the Williams Family Cemetery. Wanda Moody is my go to person for information on this family—thanks Wanda.
A special thank you goes to David Barnes, a friend of the Coats Museum, who has added a new video to our coatsmuseum.com website. Andy Cole and Lynda Butler recorded a tour of the museum exhibit hall displays for those who choose not to mingle far from their homes. Enjoy the tour because the “Camp Followers “Exhibit in the hall will be replaced by a Boy Scouts exhibit when the pandemic is more under control.
Enjoyed hearing from several readers who had information about Miss Esther Ricks. Dana Coats Byrd had Miss Ricks in a fifth –sixth grade combination class and has a picture she took of Miss Ricks as well as some fond memories of the John Audubon Bird Club. Phyllis Hardison from Dunn attends the Hood Memorial Church. She said Rev. Frank Leggett was pastor there for eleven years and that Miss Esther Ricks was his aunt. Phyliss recalled that Miss Ricks was originally from Pantego , near Little Washington. Esther’s great-niece thinks that Miss Ricks attended Atlantic College. We are going to research to find her gravesite.
Thanks to both of these ladies for sharing and reading the Coats Museum News. Thanks also goes to J.B. and Lenee Smith for giving a memorial to honor Stacey Johnson, Sr. The generosity of so many folks giving to the museum has warmed our hearts during this restrictive pandemic.