October 25, 2019 Coats Museum News
Who is old enough to remember Luci Uzzle and Rev. Ralph Byrd? In the July 24, 1980 edition of the Daily Record, Luci Uzzle of the Record staff wrote an article on Ralph O. Byrd. The article gave insight as to why the people in Grove Townships and in surrounding towns loved the soft-spoken minister, farmer, and father. “Meeting Ralph O. Byrd, one immediately becomes aware of an aura of peace, dignity, and strength” was how Mrs. Uzzle saw the Rev. Byrd, an 80-year old veteran pastor of Antioch Pentecostal Baptist Church at Erwin. His parishioners knew him as “pastor”, father of four daughters and two sons, and an active tiller of the soil on his farm near Coats. He was well known as one always available to those in need of a visit, counseling and a prayer, gentle smile or some discipline from quoted scriptures.”
Another name which has appeared into the Coats Museum News before is that of Herman B. Pope. Mr. Pope, 80, of Carriage House Apartments, Raleigh had died on Sunday. Mr. Pope was a native of Coats according to his death announcement. Funeral services were held at the Fellowship Baptist Church on Old Stage Road and burial was in Greenwood Cemetery in Dunn. Among his survivors was a sister, Mrs. Elsie Pope Upchurch Hayes of Dunn (Daily Record July 28, 1980).
A Coats man was killed in a logging accident in Chatham County when a tree fell from behind him and hit him. Joseph Walden, 56, was working with his nephew who shouted to him, but the chain saw noise presented the victim from hearing him (Daily Record July 29, 1980).
Everyone would like to win a car. Right? A 1980 Plymouth Horizon was to be given away on Aug. 16th by the Coats Recreation Department. The department sold chances to win the vehicle (Daily Record July 29, 1980). Does Chrysler continue to make Horizons?
The Coats Community Building was the setting for the birthday dinner honoring Mrs. Flonnie Wood. The children who hosted the event were Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Wood, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Colon (Pearl) Collins, Mr. and Mrs. Jim (Grace) Lewis, Mrs. Edwin (Frances) Stewart, Mrs. Pauline Allen, and Mrs. Thelma Denning (Daily Record July 30, 1980). Does anyone know how old Mrs. Wood was?
This I do know. According to Frances Wood Stewart, her dad was one of the first barbers in Coats and actually conducted business out of his house which was one of the first houses built in Coats. She also shared that her dad always wanted a farm and bought one located on Black River on what is now Ebenezer Church Road just before the intersection of Johnson and Dixon Roads. She stated that her mother never cared for his farming or buying the farm. Later due to bad crops, Mr. Willie Wood lost the farm and it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Truesdell, Jr. of Washington, D.C. “Bill” had married a girl who grew up on Johnson Road and after college she had moved to the nation’s capital for work.
She married Bill and returned to Harnett County and planned to build a house on the land and develop a park for recreation for the young people in the Coats area. While the couple was spending the winter in Florida, Bill who had been severely injured during WWII only to die very young from a cerebral hemorrhage before he could realize his dream to a build a park. The rest of the story you might ask. Bill’s wife was six months pregnant when he died; hence, he never got to see his only child. What happened to the widow? She returned to Washington, D. C .His daughter, Billie Truesdell, did come to Coats during the great ice storm of 1968 and finished out the school year before attending a private school near her grandmother in Florida. Debra Jackson of Coats attended school there with Billie. After graduating from school in Florida, Billie would return to Washington to graduate from a university in Washington.
Hence the story had two sad endings- Mr. Wood lost his beloved farm and Mr. Truesdell never built the park; however, the farm continues to be in his wife’s family.
Surely the beautiful Kathy Williams, the Coats Miss Junior Order was having some tough decisions in selecting her wardrobe for the state pageant. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Williams had spent some time at the Windsor House before going to the pageant in Greensboro on August 7 (Daily Record Aug. 1, 1980). Who remembers the Windsor House—that was the place!
Another Wood had made the Daily Record news. Mrs. Pauline Byrd Wood of the Bailey’s Crossroads area had died following a period of declining health. The fifty-nine year-old woman was a native of Johnston County and was the daughter of Mrs. Flonnie Ennis Byrd and the late Sammie C. Byrd. She was a former nurse’s aide at GHH. Her service and burial was at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church and cemetery. She was survived by her husband, Willard Wood; her children-Jean, Ken, Ronnie, and Dempsey Wood. She was also survived by her mother. Her siblings were Mrs. Faye Williford and the late Graham Byrd of Coats.
As you have followed the Coats Museum News over the years, can you recall reading about the birth of many twins from Coats? There were the Parrish brothers-Rupert and Raeford; the Ennis twins-Dale and Gale; the Pollard twins-Kenneth and Keith and Danny and Debbie. Were Devaul and Danville Langdon twins? Add to this list the Denton twins-Tiffany and Tonya, who celebrated their first birthday on July 30th. The girls were granddaughters of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Sherrill Denton. Their great-grandmothers were Mrs. Alda Grimes and Mrs. Hettie Holmes (Daily Record Aug. 7, 1980). Surely there are many more.
I do know that two of my former students were headed toward a life together. Mr. and Mrs. Lenox C. Strickland of Route One, Coats, announced the engagement of their daughter, Sharon Rose Strickland, to Gary Mitchell Beasley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Beasley, also of rural Coats (Daily Record Aug. 8, 1980). Do you recognize Gary’s name in connection to Farmer’s Furniture in Dunn and beyond?
John Calvin Sorrell, 81, had died on Saturday. His services were at the Rose Funeral Chapel in Benson with burial in Roselawn Cemetery. Surviving him were two sons-James Edward Sorrell and Sherrill Sorrell. Mrs. Fulton Moore, Mrs. Henry White, Jr., Mrs. Etheridge Penny and Mrs. Garlon Raynor were his daughters. Mrs. Hettie Neighbors and Mrs. Ella Reaves were his sisters (Daily Record Aug. 11, 1980).
A dinner was hosted for another Sorrell on the occasion of his 92nd birthday. James Walter Sorrell, Sr. was born on Aug. 12, 1888. He had married Nettie Irene Ennis and his parents were William Richard Sorrell and Mary Eliza Hodges (Daily Record Aug. 13, 1980).
You might wonder if these two Sorrell men were kin. William Richard Sorrell and Jim Sorrell were sons of the elder John Calvin Sorrell. The John Calvin Sorrell whose obituary was written above was son of Jim Sorrell and Lusianna Denning Sorrell on Benson Hardee Road from the Benson area. Of course, this makes the two above men cousins. William Richard and Jim were brothers of Mrs. Oscar (Virginia Sorrell) Turlington, Mrs. L.L. (Laura Frances) Turlington and Mrs. Sylvester (Ella) Neighbors. There were two more Sorrell brothers-Alonzo and J.H. who lived nearer to the Hodges Crossroads (Sorrell Genealogy-Coats Museum).
Mr. and Mrs. Clester P. Johnson announced the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Johnson, to Wayne Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Johnson of Dunn (Daily Record Aug. 15, 1980).
Shelia Stephenson Phillips was engaged to marry Robert White of Morrisville, NC. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Linwood Stephenson of Route 2, Angier. The 1973 Coats High graduate was a licensed practical nurse. Mr. White was an assistant principal and coach in Morrisville (Daily Record Aug. 21, 1980).
For those of you who attended the 1985 Coats School Reunion events at Coats may remember that there was huge painting on the back of the auditorium stage of 1936 building that housed the principal’s office, classrooms and other offices for support personnel. The former students who performed for the former graduates stood on that stage in front of that beautiful painting of the high school which was painted by Shelia’s brother Michael Stephenson. What happened to that painting?
Coats is a small town but it has people with the biggest hearts. The museum is the recipient of the generosity of many of them which helps the volunteers at the museum manage the Heritage and Cotton Museum and grounds.
Thanks goes to Lonnie Dorman for his gift of several family pictures and to Marc and Jean Powell for finding a dress shirt for our Vietnam soldier.
Many folks donate Coats Museum memorials and honorariums for friends and family members rather than giving flowers or gifts. Others give their time and talent. It is always a joy to share with the readers those who are making a difference in the life of the museum. Read about the following that are appreciated for coming on board the last few weeks to be a part of the museum team.
Patsy and Stacy Avery almost weekly bring in a donation to remember a dear friend or neighbor who has died. Their latest act of love and generosity is for remembrance of Sandra Dennis who recently died. A second thank you goes to the Coats Kiwanis Club which not only touches the lives of area school children but also impacts the lives of children around the world. The Kiwanians have remembered Betty Manning’s oldest brother, Jerry Williams, with a museum memorial. It only takes a phone call for Paul Parker and David Barnes to show up and use their skills to keep our lights and computers working properly. Kevin Pope, son of Gail and Hilda Pope who were part of the original group who envisioned the Coats Museum, and his co-worker, Jim Waicus, from Birchtree Paint and Design in Willow Spring, spent hours in uncomfortable heat to assist Tim Penny (an unsung town hero) build a museum shelter and to power wash the museum and sidewalks. Then we have our youngest member, Misty Daniel Gil, on our team of workers, who along with her husband Rubin and brother-in-law Dean, clipped the shrubbery and cleaned up the clippings so the museum would look its best for Farmers Day. Thank you goes to all these individuals from all those who care so much for the Coats Museum.
Who is old enough to remember Luci Uzzle and Rev. Ralph Byrd? In the July 24, 1980 edition of the Daily Record, Luci Uzzle of the Record staff wrote an article on Ralph O. Byrd. The article gave insight as to why the people in Grove Townships and in surrounding towns loved the soft-spoken minister, farmer, and father. “Meeting Ralph O. Byrd, one immediately becomes aware of an aura of peace, dignity, and strength” was how Mrs. Uzzle saw the Rev. Byrd, an 80-year old veteran pastor of Antioch Pentecostal Baptist Church at Erwin. His parishioners knew him as “pastor”, father of four daughters and two sons, and an active tiller of the soil on his farm near Coats. He was well known as one always available to those in need of a visit, counseling and a prayer, gentle smile or some discipline from quoted scriptures.”
Another name which has appeared into the Coats Museum News before is that of Herman B. Pope. Mr. Pope, 80, of Carriage House Apartments, Raleigh had died on Sunday. Mr. Pope was a native of Coats according to his death announcement. Funeral services were held at the Fellowship Baptist Church on Old Stage Road and burial was in Greenwood Cemetery in Dunn. Among his survivors was a sister, Mrs. Elsie Pope Upchurch Hayes of Dunn (Daily Record July 28, 1980).
A Coats man was killed in a logging accident in Chatham County when a tree fell from behind him and hit him. Joseph Walden, 56, was working with his nephew who shouted to him, but the chain saw noise presented the victim from hearing him (Daily Record July 29, 1980).
Everyone would like to win a car. Right? A 1980 Plymouth Horizon was to be given away on Aug. 16th by the Coats Recreation Department. The department sold chances to win the vehicle (Daily Record July 29, 1980). Does Chrysler continue to make Horizons?
The Coats Community Building was the setting for the birthday dinner honoring Mrs. Flonnie Wood. The children who hosted the event were Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Wood, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Colon (Pearl) Collins, Mr. and Mrs. Jim (Grace) Lewis, Mrs. Edwin (Frances) Stewart, Mrs. Pauline Allen, and Mrs. Thelma Denning (Daily Record July 30, 1980). Does anyone know how old Mrs. Wood was?
This I do know. According to Frances Wood Stewart, her dad was one of the first barbers in Coats and actually conducted business out of his house which was one of the first houses built in Coats. She also shared that her dad always wanted a farm and bought one located on Black River on what is now Ebenezer Church Road just before the intersection of Johnson and Dixon Roads. She stated that her mother never cared for his farming or buying the farm. Later due to bad crops, Mr. Willie Wood lost the farm and it was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Truesdell, Jr. of Washington, D.C. “Bill” had married a girl who grew up on Johnson Road and after college she had moved to the nation’s capital for work.
She married Bill and returned to Harnett County and planned to build a house on the land and develop a park for recreation for the young people in the Coats area. While the couple was spending the winter in Florida, Bill who had been severely injured during WWII only to die very young from a cerebral hemorrhage before he could realize his dream to a build a park. The rest of the story you might ask. Bill’s wife was six months pregnant when he died; hence, he never got to see his only child. What happened to the widow? She returned to Washington, D. C .His daughter, Billie Truesdell, did come to Coats during the great ice storm of 1968 and finished out the school year before attending a private school near her grandmother in Florida. Debra Jackson of Coats attended school there with Billie. After graduating from school in Florida, Billie would return to Washington to graduate from a university in Washington.
Hence the story had two sad endings- Mr. Wood lost his beloved farm and Mr. Truesdell never built the park; however, the farm continues to be in his wife’s family.
Surely the beautiful Kathy Williams, the Coats Miss Junior Order was having some tough decisions in selecting her wardrobe for the state pageant. The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Williams had spent some time at the Windsor House before going to the pageant in Greensboro on August 7 (Daily Record Aug. 1, 1980). Who remembers the Windsor House—that was the place!
Another Wood had made the Daily Record news. Mrs. Pauline Byrd Wood of the Bailey’s Crossroads area had died following a period of declining health. The fifty-nine year-old woman was a native of Johnston County and was the daughter of Mrs. Flonnie Ennis Byrd and the late Sammie C. Byrd. She was a former nurse’s aide at GHH. Her service and burial was at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church and cemetery. She was survived by her husband, Willard Wood; her children-Jean, Ken, Ronnie, and Dempsey Wood. She was also survived by her mother. Her siblings were Mrs. Faye Williford and the late Graham Byrd of Coats.
As you have followed the Coats Museum News over the years, can you recall reading about the birth of many twins from Coats? There were the Parrish brothers-Rupert and Raeford; the Ennis twins-Dale and Gale; the Pollard twins-Kenneth and Keith and Danny and Debbie. Were Devaul and Danville Langdon twins? Add to this list the Denton twins-Tiffany and Tonya, who celebrated their first birthday on July 30th. The girls were granddaughters of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Sherrill Denton. Their great-grandmothers were Mrs. Alda Grimes and Mrs. Hettie Holmes (Daily Record Aug. 7, 1980). Surely there are many more.
I do know that two of my former students were headed toward a life together. Mr. and Mrs. Lenox C. Strickland of Route One, Coats, announced the engagement of their daughter, Sharon Rose Strickland, to Gary Mitchell Beasley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Beasley, also of rural Coats (Daily Record Aug. 8, 1980). Do you recognize Gary’s name in connection to Farmer’s Furniture in Dunn and beyond?
John Calvin Sorrell, 81, had died on Saturday. His services were at the Rose Funeral Chapel in Benson with burial in Roselawn Cemetery. Surviving him were two sons-James Edward Sorrell and Sherrill Sorrell. Mrs. Fulton Moore, Mrs. Henry White, Jr., Mrs. Etheridge Penny and Mrs. Garlon Raynor were his daughters. Mrs. Hettie Neighbors and Mrs. Ella Reaves were his sisters (Daily Record Aug. 11, 1980).
A dinner was hosted for another Sorrell on the occasion of his 92nd birthday. James Walter Sorrell, Sr. was born on Aug. 12, 1888. He had married Nettie Irene Ennis and his parents were William Richard Sorrell and Mary Eliza Hodges (Daily Record Aug. 13, 1980).
You might wonder if these two Sorrell men were kin. William Richard Sorrell and Jim Sorrell were sons of the elder John Calvin Sorrell. The John Calvin Sorrell whose obituary was written above was son of Jim Sorrell and Lusianna Denning Sorrell on Benson Hardee Road from the Benson area. Of course, this makes the two above men cousins. William Richard and Jim were brothers of Mrs. Oscar (Virginia Sorrell) Turlington, Mrs. L.L. (Laura Frances) Turlington and Mrs. Sylvester (Ella) Neighbors. There were two more Sorrell brothers-Alonzo and J.H. who lived nearer to the Hodges Crossroads (Sorrell Genealogy-Coats Museum).
Mr. and Mrs. Clester P. Johnson announced the engagement of their daughter, Elizabeth Ann Johnson, to Wayne Johnson, son of Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Johnson of Dunn (Daily Record Aug. 15, 1980).
Shelia Stephenson Phillips was engaged to marry Robert White of Morrisville, NC. Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Linwood Stephenson of Route 2, Angier. The 1973 Coats High graduate was a licensed practical nurse. Mr. White was an assistant principal and coach in Morrisville (Daily Record Aug. 21, 1980).
For those of you who attended the 1985 Coats School Reunion events at Coats may remember that there was huge painting on the back of the auditorium stage of 1936 building that housed the principal’s office, classrooms and other offices for support personnel. The former students who performed for the former graduates stood on that stage in front of that beautiful painting of the high school which was painted by Shelia’s brother Michael Stephenson. What happened to that painting?
Coats is a small town but it has people with the biggest hearts. The museum is the recipient of the generosity of many of them which helps the volunteers at the museum manage the Heritage and Cotton Museum and grounds.
Thanks goes to Lonnie Dorman for his gift of several family pictures and to Marc and Jean Powell for finding a dress shirt for our Vietnam soldier.
Many folks donate Coats Museum memorials and honorariums for friends and family members rather than giving flowers or gifts. Others give their time and talent. It is always a joy to share with the readers those who are making a difference in the life of the museum. Read about the following that are appreciated for coming on board the last few weeks to be a part of the museum team.
Patsy and Stacy Avery almost weekly bring in a donation to remember a dear friend or neighbor who has died. Their latest act of love and generosity is for remembrance of Sandra Dennis who recently died. A second thank you goes to the Coats Kiwanis Club which not only touches the lives of area school children but also impacts the lives of children around the world. The Kiwanians have remembered Betty Manning’s oldest brother, Jerry Williams, with a museum memorial. It only takes a phone call for Paul Parker and David Barnes to show up and use their skills to keep our lights and computers working properly. Kevin Pope, son of Gail and Hilda Pope who were part of the original group who envisioned the Coats Museum, and his co-worker, Jim Waicus, from Birchtree Paint and Design in Willow Spring, spent hours in uncomfortable heat to assist Tim Penny (an unsung town hero) build a museum shelter and to power wash the museum and sidewalks. Then we have our youngest member, Misty Daniel Gil, on our team of workers, who along with her husband Rubin and brother-in-law Dean, clipped the shrubbery and cleaned up the clippings so the museum would look its best for Farmers Day. Thank you goes to all these individuals from all those who care so much for the Coats Museum.