October 27, 2017 Coats Museum News
The year was 1966. A record 52,500 Americans had died on the roads and 9 million were injured in traffic accidents. A Labor Day weekend record was set with 614 deaths. The consumer price index had hit a record high in July, 1966, making this the most inflationary year since 1957. A good meal in 1966 at Reade’s Restaurant at Burgaw, N.C. consisting of southern fried chicken, two vegetables, hot bread or rolls, dessert and tea and coffee had cost $1.10. If one had just wanted homemade pie-chocolate, lemon, coconut or apple, a slice, it could be purchased for 20 cents and for an extra dime one could have a’ la mode( Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail, Massachusetts: Federal Street Press: Merriam-Webster, p. 152).
In the Coats community a family, death had taken a loved one. Paul P. Wood, 71, had died on Saturday. His services were conducted at Bethsaida Primitive Baptist Church with burial in the Devotional Gardens. Surviving him were his wife, Mrs. Ina Lee Wood, three sons- Herbert, Willard, and Paul Wood, Jr. His four daughters were Mrs. Ernestine Browning, Miss Norma Jean Wood, Mrs. Katherine Mills, and Mrs. Herbert Brooks. His half- brother was Adie O’Neal. The Oakdale HD Club had met at the home of Mrs. Oliver Ennis with Mrs. Rob Adams presiding. Mrs. Juanita Hudson presented the program on “Pressing for Tailoring” (Daily Record Feb. 28, 1966).
The Coats Beta Club had sponsored a dance at the Coats Community Building. The Silvertones furnished music for the event that was to raise money for club members to attend the Beta Club convention in Asheville. A cake sale was also planned for a later date according to Janet Norris, club reporter (Daily Record Mar. 8, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Turlington were honored on their 50th wedding anniversary by their children at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Graham Turlington on Route One, Coats. Children hosting the event were Mrs. Clinton Currin, Mr. Robert Turlington, Mrs. Joe Young, Mrs. Robert Weaver and Mr. Graham Turlington (Daily Record Mar. 10, 1966).
Mrs. Sally Parrish, 97, of Coats, had died on Sunday. Funeral services were held at the Gift Primitive Baptist Church and conducted by Elders A.D. McGee and Shepherd Stephenson. Her burial site was in Coats City Cemetery. Reggie Parrish and Mrs. Mary Mason were stepchildren (Daily Record Mar. 15, 1966). Do some math. She was born in 1869 and was only about 36 when the town was chartered. She was able to witness the first cars, the first planes, the first electric lights and so much more that it is almost impossible to imagine her life experiences.
Harnett County Rep. Carson Gregory had announced he would seek re-election to his eighth term in the State House (Daily Record Mar. 18, 1966). Question-did the Daily Record not report in the Mar. 11, 1964 edition that Carson Gregory had filed to regain the seat that he had lost to Dr. H.D. Mabe and which he had held the NC House seat for twelve consecutive terms?
Mr. and Mrs. Hershal Ray Barnes of Route 1, Angier, announced the birth of a son at BJMH in Dunn. Mrs. Barnes was the former Judy Frances Godwin (Daily Record Mar. 22, 1966).
William Albert Stevens, 72, of Coats had died on Mar. 22. His services were conducted at the Bethel Primitive Baptist Church and burial was in the Stevens Cemetery. Elder Shepherd Stephenson, Rev. Bill Kimbrough, and Elder Durle McGee officiated. Mr. Stevens was survived by his wife, Mrs. Daisy Stevens; three sons-David, Earl, and Bobby Stevens and three daughters-Lura Flowers, Edna Collier, and Margaret Pope. His siblings were Almon Stevens, Mrs. Florence Nordan and Mrs. Ida Fish (Daily Record Mar. 22, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Gilbert of Coats were the parents of a son born in Good Hope. The mother was the former Barbara Faircloth. Mrs. Ruby Parrish of the Oakdale HD Club showed a film “Accent with Accessories for the Home”. Hostess for the meeting had been Mrs. Bernard Hudson.
Ronald Avery, a physical education teacher, was assigned to teach at Midway High School under the supervision of Watt Ragan. At Campbell, he had participated in track and was a member of the Monogram Club and the Walker Group Biology Club (Daily Record Mar. 28, 1966). Was this his student teaching assignment?
There had been good news and bad news at the Larry Austin Ennis house hold. The good news was the arrival of a daughter on Mar. 26 at BJMH. The bad news was that the new mother, the former Linda Lou Parnell, had lost her brother William P. Parnell in Vietnam combat (Daily Record Mar. 28, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. Grayden Stewart announced the engagement of their daughter, Lynda Sue, to Martin Lloyd Sherrill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Garland P. Sherrill. Lynda was a junior at Campbell College and Martin was engaged in farming after having attended N.C. State University (Daily Record Apr. 12, 1966).
Mrs. Wandra Adams Stewart, widow of Donald Stewart, was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross on behalf of her husband. He was also awarded posthumously eight Air Medals, the Air Force Commendations Medal and Purple Heart. Late Sgt. Stewart’s mother, Mrs. Pearl Hasty, received a duplication set of the medals Daily Record April 1, 1966.
Becky Suggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Suggs, was honored on her 9th birthday with a birthday party at her house with Bob House, Marty Poole, Doug Stewart, Suzanne Parker, Robbie Turnage, Debbie Turnage, Cindy Pleasant, Sandra Kay Howard, Pam Stephenson, Anita Wolf, Debbie Robertson, Vonda Young, Glenda Sparks, Randy Suggs, and Eileen Taylor (Daily Record Apr. 1, 1966). Wonder if Becky has the gold bracelet with a miniature white Bible attached that she had received at the party.
The Daily Record announced that Coats was to get a Mount Olive Pickle Company station since a number of Coats farmers were engaged in growing the pickle type “cuke” (Daily Record Apr. 5, 1966).Did this happen?
Who remembers listening to the Lewis Family and Goss Brothers? The two groups were slated to appear at the Coats School to raise funds for the Coats High Band (Daily Record Apr. 6, 1966).
Another death was recorded for the area. Mrs. Lula Wood, 64, of Benson died on Sunday. Her survivors were her husband, Junius Wood; three daughters-Mrs Elgie Norris, Mrs. Mae Ruth Britt, and Mrs. Katie Pope. Her two sons were Arland and Carson Wood (Daily Record Apr. 12, 1966).
The Goodwill HD Club met at the Goodwill Community Center and had Mrs. Gerald Hayes and Mrs. Rupert Parrish as hostesses. Mrs. Rebeth Mitchell was club president. Mrs. Carlie McLamb joined the club of which 19 members were present.
Do remember Atlas Blackman? Rev. Atlas Blackman, of Coats and of the WCKB radio station, was the guest evangelist at the revival service at Dunn Advent Christian Church in Dunn (Daily Record Apr. 14, 1966).
Another funeral was to be attended by a Coats resident. Funeral services were conducted at Liberty Primitive Baptist Church for Grover Cleveland Byrd, 78, of Benson. Surviving him was his wife, Mrs. Nellie Stewart Byrd. His three sisters-Mrs. W.R. Tart of Coats, Mrs. Sallie Ennis, and Mrs. Liddie Tart (Daily Record Apr. 13, 1966).
As the military draft call increased, a great deal of controversy surrounded the military draft. A major point in the controversy was the fact that 1.9 million college boys had been deferred from the draft. In that same year, protest against the Vietnam War gained momentum as 63,000 marchers to the Washington Monument pledge to vote only for antiwar candidates. T.V’s biggest hit –the twice –a-week Batman show was a phenomenon. By the end of 1966, the caped crusader had invaded the toy market with model kits, walkie-talkies radios, puzzles, capes and batmobiles.
What a delight it was to have Joy Coats and Robert Pleasant visit the museum. Both were outstanding students who graduated in 1967. Robert and his wife Jeanette were taking a last walk through the old Coats High School before demolition when they came upon a contraption that contained the names of all the students and their teachers who were at Coats High School in 1959. The rolodex type device had typed strips containing the name of each student by grades and the high school section shared the classes each high student was taking. It is truly an interesting item and shows how far we have come in keeping student records. That was the school’s computer. Thank you goes to the 1967 class president Robert and Jeanette for gifting this item to the Coats Museum in honor of Joy who served as secretary for forty-eight in the Coats School system. That has to be a record. Students and teachers both loved Joy who truly lived up to her name.
Thank you goes to my husband H.L. for his memorial gifts to the museum endowment to honor Colonel Kress Williams and my dad, Jonah C. Johnson, who had the same birthdates. The men were good friends and both loved sharing stories and history and both would be proud of the Coats Museum. Also a big thank you goes to the person who remembered Hilda Pope and Lynda Butler with birthday honorariums to the same endowment.
The year was 1966. A record 52,500 Americans had died on the roads and 9 million were injured in traffic accidents. A Labor Day weekend record was set with 614 deaths. The consumer price index had hit a record high in July, 1966, making this the most inflationary year since 1957. A good meal in 1966 at Reade’s Restaurant at Burgaw, N.C. consisting of southern fried chicken, two vegetables, hot bread or rolls, dessert and tea and coffee had cost $1.10. If one had just wanted homemade pie-chocolate, lemon, coconut or apple, a slice, it could be purchased for 20 cents and for an extra dime one could have a’ la mode( Dickson, Paul. From Elvis to E-Mail, Massachusetts: Federal Street Press: Merriam-Webster, p. 152).
In the Coats community a family, death had taken a loved one. Paul P. Wood, 71, had died on Saturday. His services were conducted at Bethsaida Primitive Baptist Church with burial in the Devotional Gardens. Surviving him were his wife, Mrs. Ina Lee Wood, three sons- Herbert, Willard, and Paul Wood, Jr. His four daughters were Mrs. Ernestine Browning, Miss Norma Jean Wood, Mrs. Katherine Mills, and Mrs. Herbert Brooks. His half- brother was Adie O’Neal. The Oakdale HD Club had met at the home of Mrs. Oliver Ennis with Mrs. Rob Adams presiding. Mrs. Juanita Hudson presented the program on “Pressing for Tailoring” (Daily Record Feb. 28, 1966).
The Coats Beta Club had sponsored a dance at the Coats Community Building. The Silvertones furnished music for the event that was to raise money for club members to attend the Beta Club convention in Asheville. A cake sale was also planned for a later date according to Janet Norris, club reporter (Daily Record Mar. 8, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Turlington were honored on their 50th wedding anniversary by their children at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Graham Turlington on Route One, Coats. Children hosting the event were Mrs. Clinton Currin, Mr. Robert Turlington, Mrs. Joe Young, Mrs. Robert Weaver and Mr. Graham Turlington (Daily Record Mar. 10, 1966).
Mrs. Sally Parrish, 97, of Coats, had died on Sunday. Funeral services were held at the Gift Primitive Baptist Church and conducted by Elders A.D. McGee and Shepherd Stephenson. Her burial site was in Coats City Cemetery. Reggie Parrish and Mrs. Mary Mason were stepchildren (Daily Record Mar. 15, 1966). Do some math. She was born in 1869 and was only about 36 when the town was chartered. She was able to witness the first cars, the first planes, the first electric lights and so much more that it is almost impossible to imagine her life experiences.
Harnett County Rep. Carson Gregory had announced he would seek re-election to his eighth term in the State House (Daily Record Mar. 18, 1966). Question-did the Daily Record not report in the Mar. 11, 1964 edition that Carson Gregory had filed to regain the seat that he had lost to Dr. H.D. Mabe and which he had held the NC House seat for twelve consecutive terms?
Mr. and Mrs. Hershal Ray Barnes of Route 1, Angier, announced the birth of a son at BJMH in Dunn. Mrs. Barnes was the former Judy Frances Godwin (Daily Record Mar. 22, 1966).
William Albert Stevens, 72, of Coats had died on Mar. 22. His services were conducted at the Bethel Primitive Baptist Church and burial was in the Stevens Cemetery. Elder Shepherd Stephenson, Rev. Bill Kimbrough, and Elder Durle McGee officiated. Mr. Stevens was survived by his wife, Mrs. Daisy Stevens; three sons-David, Earl, and Bobby Stevens and three daughters-Lura Flowers, Edna Collier, and Margaret Pope. His siblings were Almon Stevens, Mrs. Florence Nordan and Mrs. Ida Fish (Daily Record Mar. 22, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Gilbert of Coats were the parents of a son born in Good Hope. The mother was the former Barbara Faircloth. Mrs. Ruby Parrish of the Oakdale HD Club showed a film “Accent with Accessories for the Home”. Hostess for the meeting had been Mrs. Bernard Hudson.
Ronald Avery, a physical education teacher, was assigned to teach at Midway High School under the supervision of Watt Ragan. At Campbell, he had participated in track and was a member of the Monogram Club and the Walker Group Biology Club (Daily Record Mar. 28, 1966). Was this his student teaching assignment?
There had been good news and bad news at the Larry Austin Ennis house hold. The good news was the arrival of a daughter on Mar. 26 at BJMH. The bad news was that the new mother, the former Linda Lou Parnell, had lost her brother William P. Parnell in Vietnam combat (Daily Record Mar. 28, 1966).
Mr. and Mrs. Grayden Stewart announced the engagement of their daughter, Lynda Sue, to Martin Lloyd Sherrill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Garland P. Sherrill. Lynda was a junior at Campbell College and Martin was engaged in farming after having attended N.C. State University (Daily Record Apr. 12, 1966).
Mrs. Wandra Adams Stewart, widow of Donald Stewart, was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross on behalf of her husband. He was also awarded posthumously eight Air Medals, the Air Force Commendations Medal and Purple Heart. Late Sgt. Stewart’s mother, Mrs. Pearl Hasty, received a duplication set of the medals Daily Record April 1, 1966.
Becky Suggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Suggs, was honored on her 9th birthday with a birthday party at her house with Bob House, Marty Poole, Doug Stewart, Suzanne Parker, Robbie Turnage, Debbie Turnage, Cindy Pleasant, Sandra Kay Howard, Pam Stephenson, Anita Wolf, Debbie Robertson, Vonda Young, Glenda Sparks, Randy Suggs, and Eileen Taylor (Daily Record Apr. 1, 1966). Wonder if Becky has the gold bracelet with a miniature white Bible attached that she had received at the party.
The Daily Record announced that Coats was to get a Mount Olive Pickle Company station since a number of Coats farmers were engaged in growing the pickle type “cuke” (Daily Record Apr. 5, 1966).Did this happen?
Who remembers listening to the Lewis Family and Goss Brothers? The two groups were slated to appear at the Coats School to raise funds for the Coats High Band (Daily Record Apr. 6, 1966).
Another death was recorded for the area. Mrs. Lula Wood, 64, of Benson died on Sunday. Her survivors were her husband, Junius Wood; three daughters-Mrs Elgie Norris, Mrs. Mae Ruth Britt, and Mrs. Katie Pope. Her two sons were Arland and Carson Wood (Daily Record Apr. 12, 1966).
The Goodwill HD Club met at the Goodwill Community Center and had Mrs. Gerald Hayes and Mrs. Rupert Parrish as hostesses. Mrs. Rebeth Mitchell was club president. Mrs. Carlie McLamb joined the club of which 19 members were present.
Do remember Atlas Blackman? Rev. Atlas Blackman, of Coats and of the WCKB radio station, was the guest evangelist at the revival service at Dunn Advent Christian Church in Dunn (Daily Record Apr. 14, 1966).
Another funeral was to be attended by a Coats resident. Funeral services were conducted at Liberty Primitive Baptist Church for Grover Cleveland Byrd, 78, of Benson. Surviving him was his wife, Mrs. Nellie Stewart Byrd. His three sisters-Mrs. W.R. Tart of Coats, Mrs. Sallie Ennis, and Mrs. Liddie Tart (Daily Record Apr. 13, 1966).
As the military draft call increased, a great deal of controversy surrounded the military draft. A major point in the controversy was the fact that 1.9 million college boys had been deferred from the draft. In that same year, protest against the Vietnam War gained momentum as 63,000 marchers to the Washington Monument pledge to vote only for antiwar candidates. T.V’s biggest hit –the twice –a-week Batman show was a phenomenon. By the end of 1966, the caped crusader had invaded the toy market with model kits, walkie-talkies radios, puzzles, capes and batmobiles.
What a delight it was to have Joy Coats and Robert Pleasant visit the museum. Both were outstanding students who graduated in 1967. Robert and his wife Jeanette were taking a last walk through the old Coats High School before demolition when they came upon a contraption that contained the names of all the students and their teachers who were at Coats High School in 1959. The rolodex type device had typed strips containing the name of each student by grades and the high school section shared the classes each high student was taking. It is truly an interesting item and shows how far we have come in keeping student records. That was the school’s computer. Thank you goes to the 1967 class president Robert and Jeanette for gifting this item to the Coats Museum in honor of Joy who served as secretary for forty-eight in the Coats School system. That has to be a record. Students and teachers both loved Joy who truly lived up to her name.
Thank you goes to my husband H.L. for his memorial gifts to the museum endowment to honor Colonel Kress Williams and my dad, Jonah C. Johnson, who had the same birthdates. The men were good friends and both loved sharing stories and history and both would be proud of the Coats Museum. Also a big thank you goes to the person who remembered Hilda Pope and Lynda Butler with birthday honorariums to the same endowment.
