November 22, 2019 Coats Museum News
December of 1980 was quickly coming to an end but not before it was printed that Tim Turlington had hit a jump shot with forty-three seconds remaining in the game and lifted Coats to a 71-70 victory over North Duplin in the Carolina 1-A action. Coats had a 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the league (Daily Record Dec. 19, 1980).
On the business front, The Board of Directors of the Carolina Bank, head quartered in Sanford, NC, announced the election of Hazelene Strickland as Assistant in the Coats Office. Hazelene had been in banking for twelve years (Daily Record Dec. 22, 1980).
Preston Parker had died on Monday. He was a native of Cumberland County. He was the son of the late Ernest Parker and Bessie Frye Parker. He was a veteran of WWII and was a Civil Service employee at Fort Bragg. Surviving him were his wife, Erma Mae Parker and four sons –Fleming, Danny, Paul and David. Mary Carol Lee was his only daughter while Mrs. Lottie Coats was an only sister (Daily Record Dec. 23, 1980).
Ironically, Paul came by the museum last Thursday and shared additional information about the death of his dad, Preston Parker. Paul shared that he was getting over the flu and that his dad had called and wanted to bring him some soup but Paul resisted saying that he did not want to expose his dad to the flu. He said the next call was from his mom sharing that his dad had a heart attack. All who know the Parker family will tell you that they are good Christian people. The volunteers at the museum will amen that fact.
Do you remember reading about Rev. Ralph Byrd in the column a few weeks back? One of his daughters was Patricia Byrd Ellis, who was a 1958 graduate of Coats High, had been promoted to PCA Loan Officer in Dunn (Daily Record Dec. 26, 1980).
The year 1981 was now displayed on the calendar. It was the year that the AIDS virus was first diagnosed. Ronald Reagan became president on the same day that the Iranians released the fifty-two hostages who had been seized at the US Embassy in Tehran. The role of cholesterol to death from coronary occlusion was linked. Popular fad was the Rubick’s Cube, a-madness in six colors. President Reagan inspired the sales of jellybeans. Pac Man showed up in every nook and corner of the country. Dynasty was a hit on television. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark brought back the old-fashioned movie adventure. MTV, an all-music channel, came on very strong. The freckled and bonneted Strawberry Shortcake was the hot doll for 1981. IBM entered the personal computer field. The wedding of Charles and Di was a major event. In 1981, stamps for the first-class letters rose to eighteen cents. A gallon of milk cost $2.20. Some mortgage rates rose to 17.71 percent. More divorces (1, 210,000) occurred in 1981. Inflation was 14 percent. Recall Carter’s administration bailed out Chrysler. In 1981, the company announced profits in the millions (Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail. Massachusetts: Federal Street, pp. 251-254).
On January 20, 1981, Reagan was sworn into the country’s highest office. He had been born in Illinois in 1911. He had attended Eureka College in 1928 where he worked his way through school as a dishwasher, lifeguard, and swimming coach. He was a star football player and acted in plays. His first job after college was announcing for a small radio station in Iowa. He later became an actor and made eight movies in eleven months. He made over fifty films in his movie career. Death Valley Days and General Electric Theater were works that he was seen on television. He began his political career in 1966 when he was elected governor of California. He cut taxes and reduced welfare costs and easily won a second term in 1970. Gerald Ford defeated him in his attempt to become president in 1976. In 1980, he easily defeated Jimmy Carter. Reagan worked for less government control of industry and business. Reagan was the first movie actor to become president. He was the first divorced man to win the presidency. Reagan was the oldest man to become president at age 70 (Bumann and John Patterson. 40 Presidents –Facts and Fun. Willowisp Press: pp. 154-156).
Locally, the Coats Board of Commissioners gave the formal approval for the acquisition of two police cars at the cost of $1,200 each. Haywood Penny, Public Works Director, told the board that the municipal building needed roof repairs of the asbestos type roofing (Daily Record Jan. 9, 1981).Did you ask “ Could a car be purchased for $1,200 in 1981?”
Willie Tony Beasley, Jr. had his second birthday celebrating with Cathy Jackson, Stacy McLamb, Jerry McLamb, Jr., Denise McLamb, Amy Pleasant, Terry Lee, and Edwin Gurkins (Daily Record Jan. 9, 1981).
The BJ Chicken and Burger Hut on N. McKinley was busy feeding hungry folks in Coats (Daily Record Jan. 20, 1981).Do you know who owned and operated that popular business?
Happy news was that Sherri Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Williams, had been accepted at Bauder Fashion College in Atlanta. Sad news was that Mrs. Julia Byrd, 78, of Coats, had died on Wednesday. Her funeral services were at Coats Church of God with burial in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving her were three daughters- Mrs. Elgie Suggs, Mrs. Josephine Kilgore, and Mrs. Katherine Norris. Paul W. Byrd was the only son. Mrs. Byrd had five brothers and a sister (Daily Record Jan. 22, 1981). I don’t know who the brothers and sister were but I do know that Ricky, Randy and Becky Suggs Williams were her grandchildren.
Phillip Kemp Stewart, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kemp Stewart of Coats, celebrated his first birthday with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Stewart and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Avery of Erwin along with his great-grandmother, Mrs. R.K. Cannady. Others who helped to celebrate were Robbie, Jill, Anita, Jeannette and Robert Pleasant (Daily Record Jan. 23, 1981).
Mrs. Viola Knox Hardee, 69, of Route 1, Benson, had died on Tuesday. Mrs. Hardee was sister of David Knox of Route 2, Angier (Daily Record Feb. 4, 1981).
The next edition of the Daily Record shared that Carlie Matthews, 63, operator of a sanitation service, had died on Wednesday. Mrs. Owen Bennett of Coats was his sister as was Mrs. Gerald Huff of Willow Springs. Mayor Ronald Coats was employed as the recreation director of the town of Lillington (Daily Record Feb. 6, 1981).
Curtis A. Guy, manager of the Plaza Bank in Dunn, where he retired, began work in 1970. He was at the Coats First Citizens for 22 years. Prior to that, Guy had begun his banking career in Angier in 1947 (Daily Record Feb. 5, 1981).
Dr. Anne Moore was busy promoting the Arts Council of which she had been serving as acting president. Mrs. Ida Johnson Fish, 88, of Coats, had died on Monday. Services were held at the Gift PB Church. Surviving were her daughter, Mrs. Obie Stewart, and her brother, Clarence Fish (Daily Record Feb. 10, 1981).
Many of you may remember reading about Council Williams. He was very active in the Republican politics in the county. However, Mrs. Williams and he made news in February of 1981 for a different reason. The couple celebrated their golden anniversary at the Coats Community Building. Hosts for the event were their children: Mr. and Mrs. Wadeford Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Williams, and Mr. and Mrs. Mickey (Glenda) Ramer. Mrs. Williams was the former Alda Avery, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Avery. Mr. Williams’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Williams of the Coats area. Curtis Williams was a brother of Council (Daily Record Feb, 11, 1981). There are likely very few living who remember that Curtis worked in the Roycroft Drug Store when he was just a youth. After service, he had worked at Fitchett Drug, Co. in Dunn. He later retired from Bemco. Others may remember that he married a Coats teacher-Miss Blue.
Another Coats couple also celebrated an anniversary which was their fortieth. Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Baker were parents of Colon and Dolan Baker. Mrs. Agnes Baker was the daughter of Laura and James Barefoot (Daily Record Feb. 12, 1981). Was Mrs. Baker a minister? I do know that Colon recently died. His death had saddened H.L. and me because Colon had exhibited true friendship in helping us clear our yard of about sixty downed pine trees and about that many more leaning ones as a result of the winds of Hurricane Fran in 1996. He acted like he was tickled to death to help us out just as he acted so happy to see us when our paths would cross at the grocery stores or restaurants.
Another sad event occurred in the Coats area. Mrs. Judy Garner Gregory of Angier, Route 2, was a passenger in a truck that wrecked in a one-vehicle accident. The driver of the vehicle pulled her from the burning truck. The wreck victim was the wife of Joe Gregory and mother of Alex and Michelle Gregory (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1981).
Several years ago, Lloyd and Agnes Dixon Hall sold their beautiful home in Garner to move back to Live Oak Road to purchase a portion of her family’s ancestral homestead. The couple adjusted to the small town environment and became involved with the Coats Baptist Church and Senior Center. Agnes died a few years ago but Lloyd remained here until a few years ago he moved to live nearer his only daughter, Judy Eubanks, who is wife of Ruby Eubanks. We proudly display Rudy’s Blue Angels uniform in the museum. The Halls were very good neighbors and H.L. and I are proud to have known them and to give a donation to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor Lloyd’s memory.
December of 1980 was quickly coming to an end but not before it was printed that Tim Turlington had hit a jump shot with forty-three seconds remaining in the game and lifted Coats to a 71-70 victory over North Duplin in the Carolina 1-A action. Coats had a 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the league (Daily Record Dec. 19, 1980).
On the business front, The Board of Directors of the Carolina Bank, head quartered in Sanford, NC, announced the election of Hazelene Strickland as Assistant in the Coats Office. Hazelene had been in banking for twelve years (Daily Record Dec. 22, 1980).
Preston Parker had died on Monday. He was a native of Cumberland County. He was the son of the late Ernest Parker and Bessie Frye Parker. He was a veteran of WWII and was a Civil Service employee at Fort Bragg. Surviving him were his wife, Erma Mae Parker and four sons –Fleming, Danny, Paul and David. Mary Carol Lee was his only daughter while Mrs. Lottie Coats was an only sister (Daily Record Dec. 23, 1980).
Ironically, Paul came by the museum last Thursday and shared additional information about the death of his dad, Preston Parker. Paul shared that he was getting over the flu and that his dad had called and wanted to bring him some soup but Paul resisted saying that he did not want to expose his dad to the flu. He said the next call was from his mom sharing that his dad had a heart attack. All who know the Parker family will tell you that they are good Christian people. The volunteers at the museum will amen that fact.
Do you remember reading about Rev. Ralph Byrd in the column a few weeks back? One of his daughters was Patricia Byrd Ellis, who was a 1958 graduate of Coats High, had been promoted to PCA Loan Officer in Dunn (Daily Record Dec. 26, 1980).
The year 1981 was now displayed on the calendar. It was the year that the AIDS virus was first diagnosed. Ronald Reagan became president on the same day that the Iranians released the fifty-two hostages who had been seized at the US Embassy in Tehran. The role of cholesterol to death from coronary occlusion was linked. Popular fad was the Rubick’s Cube, a-madness in six colors. President Reagan inspired the sales of jellybeans. Pac Man showed up in every nook and corner of the country. Dynasty was a hit on television. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark brought back the old-fashioned movie adventure. MTV, an all-music channel, came on very strong. The freckled and bonneted Strawberry Shortcake was the hot doll for 1981. IBM entered the personal computer field. The wedding of Charles and Di was a major event. In 1981, stamps for the first-class letters rose to eighteen cents. A gallon of milk cost $2.20. Some mortgage rates rose to 17.71 percent. More divorces (1, 210,000) occurred in 1981. Inflation was 14 percent. Recall Carter’s administration bailed out Chrysler. In 1981, the company announced profits in the millions (Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail. Massachusetts: Federal Street, pp. 251-254).
On January 20, 1981, Reagan was sworn into the country’s highest office. He had been born in Illinois in 1911. He had attended Eureka College in 1928 where he worked his way through school as a dishwasher, lifeguard, and swimming coach. He was a star football player and acted in plays. His first job after college was announcing for a small radio station in Iowa. He later became an actor and made eight movies in eleven months. He made over fifty films in his movie career. Death Valley Days and General Electric Theater were works that he was seen on television. He began his political career in 1966 when he was elected governor of California. He cut taxes and reduced welfare costs and easily won a second term in 1970. Gerald Ford defeated him in his attempt to become president in 1976. In 1980, he easily defeated Jimmy Carter. Reagan worked for less government control of industry and business. Reagan was the first movie actor to become president. He was the first divorced man to win the presidency. Reagan was the oldest man to become president at age 70 (Bumann and John Patterson. 40 Presidents –Facts and Fun. Willowisp Press: pp. 154-156).
Locally, the Coats Board of Commissioners gave the formal approval for the acquisition of two police cars at the cost of $1,200 each. Haywood Penny, Public Works Director, told the board that the municipal building needed roof repairs of the asbestos type roofing (Daily Record Jan. 9, 1981).Did you ask “ Could a car be purchased for $1,200 in 1981?”
Willie Tony Beasley, Jr. had his second birthday celebrating with Cathy Jackson, Stacy McLamb, Jerry McLamb, Jr., Denise McLamb, Amy Pleasant, Terry Lee, and Edwin Gurkins (Daily Record Jan. 9, 1981).
The BJ Chicken and Burger Hut on N. McKinley was busy feeding hungry folks in Coats (Daily Record Jan. 20, 1981).Do you know who owned and operated that popular business?
Happy news was that Sherri Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Williams, had been accepted at Bauder Fashion College in Atlanta. Sad news was that Mrs. Julia Byrd, 78, of Coats, had died on Wednesday. Her funeral services were at Coats Church of God with burial in the Coats City Cemetery. Surviving her were three daughters- Mrs. Elgie Suggs, Mrs. Josephine Kilgore, and Mrs. Katherine Norris. Paul W. Byrd was the only son. Mrs. Byrd had five brothers and a sister (Daily Record Jan. 22, 1981). I don’t know who the brothers and sister were but I do know that Ricky, Randy and Becky Suggs Williams were her grandchildren.
Phillip Kemp Stewart, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kemp Stewart of Coats, celebrated his first birthday with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Stewart and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Avery of Erwin along with his great-grandmother, Mrs. R.K. Cannady. Others who helped to celebrate were Robbie, Jill, Anita, Jeannette and Robert Pleasant (Daily Record Jan. 23, 1981).
Mrs. Viola Knox Hardee, 69, of Route 1, Benson, had died on Tuesday. Mrs. Hardee was sister of David Knox of Route 2, Angier (Daily Record Feb. 4, 1981).
The next edition of the Daily Record shared that Carlie Matthews, 63, operator of a sanitation service, had died on Wednesday. Mrs. Owen Bennett of Coats was his sister as was Mrs. Gerald Huff of Willow Springs. Mayor Ronald Coats was employed as the recreation director of the town of Lillington (Daily Record Feb. 6, 1981).
Curtis A. Guy, manager of the Plaza Bank in Dunn, where he retired, began work in 1970. He was at the Coats First Citizens for 22 years. Prior to that, Guy had begun his banking career in Angier in 1947 (Daily Record Feb. 5, 1981).
Dr. Anne Moore was busy promoting the Arts Council of which she had been serving as acting president. Mrs. Ida Johnson Fish, 88, of Coats, had died on Monday. Services were held at the Gift PB Church. Surviving were her daughter, Mrs. Obie Stewart, and her brother, Clarence Fish (Daily Record Feb. 10, 1981).
Many of you may remember reading about Council Williams. He was very active in the Republican politics in the county. However, Mrs. Williams and he made news in February of 1981 for a different reason. The couple celebrated their golden anniversary at the Coats Community Building. Hosts for the event were their children: Mr. and Mrs. Wadeford Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Williams, and Mr. and Mrs. Mickey (Glenda) Ramer. Mrs. Williams was the former Alda Avery, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Avery. Mr. Williams’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Williams of the Coats area. Curtis Williams was a brother of Council (Daily Record Feb, 11, 1981). There are likely very few living who remember that Curtis worked in the Roycroft Drug Store when he was just a youth. After service, he had worked at Fitchett Drug, Co. in Dunn. He later retired from Bemco. Others may remember that he married a Coats teacher-Miss Blue.
Another Coats couple also celebrated an anniversary which was their fortieth. Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Baker were parents of Colon and Dolan Baker. Mrs. Agnes Baker was the daughter of Laura and James Barefoot (Daily Record Feb. 12, 1981). Was Mrs. Baker a minister? I do know that Colon recently died. His death had saddened H.L. and me because Colon had exhibited true friendship in helping us clear our yard of about sixty downed pine trees and about that many more leaning ones as a result of the winds of Hurricane Fran in 1996. He acted like he was tickled to death to help us out just as he acted so happy to see us when our paths would cross at the grocery stores or restaurants.
Another sad event occurred in the Coats area. Mrs. Judy Garner Gregory of Angier, Route 2, was a passenger in a truck that wrecked in a one-vehicle accident. The driver of the vehicle pulled her from the burning truck. The wreck victim was the wife of Joe Gregory and mother of Alex and Michelle Gregory (Daily Record Feb. 20, 1981).
Several years ago, Lloyd and Agnes Dixon Hall sold their beautiful home in Garner to move back to Live Oak Road to purchase a portion of her family’s ancestral homestead. The couple adjusted to the small town environment and became involved with the Coats Baptist Church and Senior Center. Agnes died a few years ago but Lloyd remained here until a few years ago he moved to live nearer his only daughter, Judy Eubanks, who is wife of Ruby Eubanks. We proudly display Rudy’s Blue Angels uniform in the museum. The Halls were very good neighbors and H.L. and I are proud to have known them and to give a donation to the Coats Museum Endowment to honor Lloyd’s memory.