November 24, 2017 Coats Museum News
The weather outside was cooler in the Grove area as the elections of 1966 had given major gains to the Republicans. The splashdown of Gemini XII had proved to be very successful as the program had come to an end. The jumbo jet was soaring in the sky and capable of carrying 490 passengers. For the first time, movies were labeled for mature audiences and the first two containing obscenity were A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Work and Georgie Girl.
At the Coats Methodist Church was the site of the wedding of Miss Linda C. Barefoot where she and Mr. Joseph Odom were married in a double ring ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barefoot of Coats and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Odom, Sr. of Erwin were parents of the couple. Tomi Barefoot had attended the bride. The reception was held at the Barefoot’s Restaurant in Coats. The Coats High graduate’s husband had attended Campbell and was stationed at Kessler Air Force Base (Daily Record Nov. 2, 1966).
Do remember reading about Vickie Gauldin? She, too, was a Coats graduate who was attending Campbell and was very active in the Campbell Players that had presented a variety of musicals throughout the year (Daily Record Nov. 7, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. Carson Gregory had announced the engagement of their daughter Frances to Ronald Franklin Avery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Maylon Avery. Miss Gregory was a secretary at Erwin Mills and Mr. Avery was a teacher in Benson. Since Frances and Ronald had set the wedding date, possibly they were looking for furniture and appliances for their house. Wonder if they saw that the Suggs Co. of Dunn was selling Maytag washers for payments of $2.50 per week (Daily Record Nov. 11, 1966)?
Army Sgt. 1st Class Donald Ray Creech, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Creech, was a member of the 9th Artillery and was stationed in Vietnam (Daily Record Nov. 14, 1966). Donald’ father, “Mr. Ed”, operated a country store many, many years until his death.
How many of you recall going to what was referred to as a country store? Where I grew up, we had the good fortune of having two- the Milford Dorman Store on the Johnston County Line Road and the Weeks and Creech Store at Bailey’s Crossroads. Over the years the name of the store might have changed, but the contents of the store and those who patronized them did not. It was not uncommon to see a child walking a mile or so to pick up a 29 cent box of corn flakes, a 10 pound bag of sugar or any other item that prevented an auto trip to Coats or Benson to a “super market”. It was also for sure at certain times of the day, week and year that the neighborhood farmers gathered to talk about who was planting, barning or selling tobacco. Who had a good crop of corn or cotton was discussed. The talk was about who had caught the biggest fish and where. Who was sick and who needed a little help was also learned sitting in those country stores that were hot all year round thanks to no air conditioning and pot belly stoves. It was candy land for youngsters trying to choose between strawberry or banana BB Bats, Kit-Kats or Mary Janes to spend their pennies. It was the place to buy that RC Cola and Moon Pie or Coca Cola and peanuts. The country store was the forerunner of Hardees and McDonald’s where men felt safe ribbing each other on various topics.
Back in Coats, the Junior Order held a gala “Ladies Night” at Barefoot’s Restaurant. J.D. Norris was State Vice Counselor and Mack Parrish was District Secretary and trustee of the Children’s Home. Miss Diane Williams was the current Miss Junior Order (Daily Record Nov. 16, 1966).
Tyson T. Stewart, 55, of Coats, had died on Wednesday. His funeral was conducted at Gift PB Church and burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Survivors were Mrs. Ada W. Stewart; one daughter, Miss Adean S. Pleasant; one son, Willie Stewart, and one foster son, Jimmy Gardner; three brothers-Clayton, Liston and Elton. Mrs. Adie Lewis and Mrs. Lottie Mae Creech were his sisters (Daily Record Nov. 24, 1966).
The Fish family of Coats also felt the sting of death. James L. Fish, 53, of Coats, had died and his services were held at Gift PB Church with burial in the Coats Cemetery. He had died at the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville. He was a disabled veteran of WWII. His mother was Mrs. Ida Fish. Clarence Fish, J.D., Junius, and Robert Fish were brothers. His sisters were Mrs. Elsie East, Mrs. Obie Svolpvk, and Mrs. Annie Ruth Kenney (Daily Record Nov. 28, 1966).
How many banks did Coats have in 1966? I do know that First Citizens Bank was there and Vice President J.A. Narron of Smithfield presented 25 years service pens to Mrs. Geraldine Honeycutt, Mrs. Louine Stewart, and Curtis Guy (Daily Record Nov. 29, 1966).
Owen Stephenson, Army Specialist Fifth Class and son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Stephenson, was assigned to the 8th Medical Field Hospital in Vietnam on November 13th. Stephenson was a medical airman who entered the army in April 1961 following graduation from Coats High (Daily Record Nov. 30, 1966).
A high noon ceremony united Miss Katherine Harvey and Donald Stewart House. The ceremony took place at the Coats Baptist Church. The groom was a graduate of Coats School and was employed at Carolina Telephone and Telegraph (Daily Record Dec. 2, 1966).
Terre Hill was to build a new plant in Coats because the town had demonstrated an interest in having Terre Hill as a partner. The plant was due to be completed in April of 1967 (Daily Record Dec. 5, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Luder Upchurch announced the birth of a daughter on December 4 in Betsy Johnson Memorial Hospital. The mother was the former Diane Ennis. Teachers were increasing in number faster than pupils were increasing. There were over 3,000 new teachers in 1966. Airman 2nd Class Ronald E. Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Randall E. Allen, was in Vietnam. Airman Allen was a 1964 graduate of Coats High School and was an aircraft mechanic.
Funeral services were held for Wiley Carroll, 92, of Coats at Bethel Church with Elder T. Floyd Adams and Elder Blaney Godwin had officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. He was survived by five sons- Wiley A., Tommie, Melzie, James, and Donnie Carroll. His daughters were Mrs. Mildred Bullock, Mrs. Charlie R. Smith, and Mrs. Silas Faulkner (Daily Record Dec. 5, 1966).
Is there anyone in the Grove Township area who’s over 55 years of age who does not remember going to Luke’s Grill? His BBQ was so delicious that numerous people who visited relatives in the area would buy a few pints to take with them to faraway states. Many of the local teens made extra cash by working as car hops. Many dating teenagers gathered there to purchase a hamburger and milkshake; hence, it had to be a sad time when news reached people’s houses that Luther G. “Luke” Barefoot, 64, of Coats had died on Sunday. Services were held at Hodges Chapel. Surviving him was his wife, Mrs. Pauline Brown Barefoot. Thomas Lee and Joel Thurman Barefoot were his sons. Hubert Barefoot was a surviving brother (Daily Record Dec. 14, 1966).
When you read unusual names, do you wonder where that name originated? My sister Joan married a wonderful man whose last name was “Rainbolt” and Mr. Luke was a “Barefoot”. Wonder what is the origin of those names?
Another death was announced in the Dec. 29th edition of the Daily Record. What a terrible event during the Christmas season for the family of Randle Eldridge Barbour, 75, of Rt. 1, Coats. Funeral services were held at Prospect FWB Church with Rev. R.O. Byrd, Rev. L.F. West and Rev. Eugene Hales officiating. Burial was in the Williams Cemetery. Surviving him were his wife, Mrs. Cora Tart Barbour, and sons-Bill Vernon, Curtis, and Doyle Barbour. His six daughters were Mrs. Tiny Matthews, Mrs. Herbert Matthews, Mrs. Elmond Hair, Mrs. William R Turnidge (?), Mrs. Joe Morris and Mrs. Joseph Matthews.
Did all of Mr. Barbour’s children remain in the Prospect area and are any of his descendants living in the Coats area currently? I do know that Doyle was a beloved merchant for many years on the site of one of the original stores in Coats in 1905.
The Grim Reaper came to Coats last week and took another one of its oldest citizens. Her name was “Grace” Stewart Penny and she enjoyed 97 years in the Coats community- living about 70 of those years in the area between Coats and Buies Creek in the section which is lovingly called Pennyville. Her family has such a rich history in the town. Her dad M.C. Stewart was a WWI veteran, merchant and strong political figure in the early Coats. He was very progressive in his views and served on both the town commission and school board. Grace’s mom, Ethel, loved to use her hands to create works of art with thread and Grace shared one of them for an earlier exhibit. Many times her brother Franklin visited and shared stories about his dad and about his memories of growing up in Coats in the 40s’ and 50’s. He shared that mules were delivered to town on the Durham and Southern train and a lead mule led the other mules to the livery barn where M.C. sold them to farmers. Her brother Tony was one of our last living WWII veterans to visit our Coats Museum. Her sister “Teeny” Upchurch has visited several times and even brought her sisters including Grace, Ann, Jane and nieces Connie and Marilyn. Point being, we appreciate the Stewart family’s support. Thank you goes to H.L. Sorrell, Jr. for giving a memorial in honor of his Aunt Grace Stewart Penny to the Coats Museum Endowment to insure that the museum can continue to educate the community of its heritage.
The weather outside was cooler in the Grove area as the elections of 1966 had given major gains to the Republicans. The splashdown of Gemini XII had proved to be very successful as the program had come to an end. The jumbo jet was soaring in the sky and capable of carrying 490 passengers. For the first time, movies were labeled for mature audiences and the first two containing obscenity were A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Work and Georgie Girl.
At the Coats Methodist Church was the site of the wedding of Miss Linda C. Barefoot where she and Mr. Joseph Odom were married in a double ring ceremony. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barefoot of Coats and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Odom, Sr. of Erwin were parents of the couple. Tomi Barefoot had attended the bride. The reception was held at the Barefoot’s Restaurant in Coats. The Coats High graduate’s husband had attended Campbell and was stationed at Kessler Air Force Base (Daily Record Nov. 2, 1966).
Do remember reading about Vickie Gauldin? She, too, was a Coats graduate who was attending Campbell and was very active in the Campbell Players that had presented a variety of musicals throughout the year (Daily Record Nov. 7, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. Carson Gregory had announced the engagement of their daughter Frances to Ronald Franklin Avery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Maylon Avery. Miss Gregory was a secretary at Erwin Mills and Mr. Avery was a teacher in Benson. Since Frances and Ronald had set the wedding date, possibly they were looking for furniture and appliances for their house. Wonder if they saw that the Suggs Co. of Dunn was selling Maytag washers for payments of $2.50 per week (Daily Record Nov. 11, 1966)?
Army Sgt. 1st Class Donald Ray Creech, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Creech, was a member of the 9th Artillery and was stationed in Vietnam (Daily Record Nov. 14, 1966). Donald’ father, “Mr. Ed”, operated a country store many, many years until his death.
How many of you recall going to what was referred to as a country store? Where I grew up, we had the good fortune of having two- the Milford Dorman Store on the Johnston County Line Road and the Weeks and Creech Store at Bailey’s Crossroads. Over the years the name of the store might have changed, but the contents of the store and those who patronized them did not. It was not uncommon to see a child walking a mile or so to pick up a 29 cent box of corn flakes, a 10 pound bag of sugar or any other item that prevented an auto trip to Coats or Benson to a “super market”. It was also for sure at certain times of the day, week and year that the neighborhood farmers gathered to talk about who was planting, barning or selling tobacco. Who had a good crop of corn or cotton was discussed. The talk was about who had caught the biggest fish and where. Who was sick and who needed a little help was also learned sitting in those country stores that were hot all year round thanks to no air conditioning and pot belly stoves. It was candy land for youngsters trying to choose between strawberry or banana BB Bats, Kit-Kats or Mary Janes to spend their pennies. It was the place to buy that RC Cola and Moon Pie or Coca Cola and peanuts. The country store was the forerunner of Hardees and McDonald’s where men felt safe ribbing each other on various topics.
Back in Coats, the Junior Order held a gala “Ladies Night” at Barefoot’s Restaurant. J.D. Norris was State Vice Counselor and Mack Parrish was District Secretary and trustee of the Children’s Home. Miss Diane Williams was the current Miss Junior Order (Daily Record Nov. 16, 1966).
Tyson T. Stewart, 55, of Coats, had died on Wednesday. His funeral was conducted at Gift PB Church and burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Survivors were Mrs. Ada W. Stewart; one daughter, Miss Adean S. Pleasant; one son, Willie Stewart, and one foster son, Jimmy Gardner; three brothers-Clayton, Liston and Elton. Mrs. Adie Lewis and Mrs. Lottie Mae Creech were his sisters (Daily Record Nov. 24, 1966).
The Fish family of Coats also felt the sting of death. James L. Fish, 53, of Coats, had died and his services were held at Gift PB Church with burial in the Coats Cemetery. He had died at the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville. He was a disabled veteran of WWII. His mother was Mrs. Ida Fish. Clarence Fish, J.D., Junius, and Robert Fish were brothers. His sisters were Mrs. Elsie East, Mrs. Obie Svolpvk, and Mrs. Annie Ruth Kenney (Daily Record Nov. 28, 1966).
How many banks did Coats have in 1966? I do know that First Citizens Bank was there and Vice President J.A. Narron of Smithfield presented 25 years service pens to Mrs. Geraldine Honeycutt, Mrs. Louine Stewart, and Curtis Guy (Daily Record Nov. 29, 1966).
Owen Stephenson, Army Specialist Fifth Class and son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Stephenson, was assigned to the 8th Medical Field Hospital in Vietnam on November 13th. Stephenson was a medical airman who entered the army in April 1961 following graduation from Coats High (Daily Record Nov. 30, 1966).
A high noon ceremony united Miss Katherine Harvey and Donald Stewart House. The ceremony took place at the Coats Baptist Church. The groom was a graduate of Coats School and was employed at Carolina Telephone and Telegraph (Daily Record Dec. 2, 1966).
Terre Hill was to build a new plant in Coats because the town had demonstrated an interest in having Terre Hill as a partner. The plant was due to be completed in April of 1967 (Daily Record Dec. 5, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Luder Upchurch announced the birth of a daughter on December 4 in Betsy Johnson Memorial Hospital. The mother was the former Diane Ennis. Teachers were increasing in number faster than pupils were increasing. There were over 3,000 new teachers in 1966. Airman 2nd Class Ronald E. Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Randall E. Allen, was in Vietnam. Airman Allen was a 1964 graduate of Coats High School and was an aircraft mechanic.
Funeral services were held for Wiley Carroll, 92, of Coats at Bethel Church with Elder T. Floyd Adams and Elder Blaney Godwin had officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. He was survived by five sons- Wiley A., Tommie, Melzie, James, and Donnie Carroll. His daughters were Mrs. Mildred Bullock, Mrs. Charlie R. Smith, and Mrs. Silas Faulkner (Daily Record Dec. 5, 1966).
Is there anyone in the Grove Township area who’s over 55 years of age who does not remember going to Luke’s Grill? His BBQ was so delicious that numerous people who visited relatives in the area would buy a few pints to take with them to faraway states. Many of the local teens made extra cash by working as car hops. Many dating teenagers gathered there to purchase a hamburger and milkshake; hence, it had to be a sad time when news reached people’s houses that Luther G. “Luke” Barefoot, 64, of Coats had died on Sunday. Services were held at Hodges Chapel. Surviving him was his wife, Mrs. Pauline Brown Barefoot. Thomas Lee and Joel Thurman Barefoot were his sons. Hubert Barefoot was a surviving brother (Daily Record Dec. 14, 1966).
When you read unusual names, do you wonder where that name originated? My sister Joan married a wonderful man whose last name was “Rainbolt” and Mr. Luke was a “Barefoot”. Wonder what is the origin of those names?
Another death was announced in the Dec. 29th edition of the Daily Record. What a terrible event during the Christmas season for the family of Randle Eldridge Barbour, 75, of Rt. 1, Coats. Funeral services were held at Prospect FWB Church with Rev. R.O. Byrd, Rev. L.F. West and Rev. Eugene Hales officiating. Burial was in the Williams Cemetery. Surviving him were his wife, Mrs. Cora Tart Barbour, and sons-Bill Vernon, Curtis, and Doyle Barbour. His six daughters were Mrs. Tiny Matthews, Mrs. Herbert Matthews, Mrs. Elmond Hair, Mrs. William R Turnidge (?), Mrs. Joe Morris and Mrs. Joseph Matthews.
Did all of Mr. Barbour’s children remain in the Prospect area and are any of his descendants living in the Coats area currently? I do know that Doyle was a beloved merchant for many years on the site of one of the original stores in Coats in 1905.
The Grim Reaper came to Coats last week and took another one of its oldest citizens. Her name was “Grace” Stewart Penny and she enjoyed 97 years in the Coats community- living about 70 of those years in the area between Coats and Buies Creek in the section which is lovingly called Pennyville. Her family has such a rich history in the town. Her dad M.C. Stewart was a WWI veteran, merchant and strong political figure in the early Coats. He was very progressive in his views and served on both the town commission and school board. Grace’s mom, Ethel, loved to use her hands to create works of art with thread and Grace shared one of them for an earlier exhibit. Many times her brother Franklin visited and shared stories about his dad and about his memories of growing up in Coats in the 40s’ and 50’s. He shared that mules were delivered to town on the Durham and Southern train and a lead mule led the other mules to the livery barn where M.C. sold them to farmers. Her brother Tony was one of our last living WWII veterans to visit our Coats Museum. Her sister “Teeny” Upchurch has visited several times and even brought her sisters including Grace, Ann, Jane and nieces Connie and Marilyn. Point being, we appreciate the Stewart family’s support. Thank you goes to H.L. Sorrell, Jr. for giving a memorial in honor of his Aunt Grace Stewart Penny to the Coats Museum Endowment to insure that the museum can continue to educate the community of its heritage.