September 21, 2018 Coats Museum News
The name Carson Gregory is a familiar one to most folks in the Coats area. In fact, a country road is named after him. What did he do that made him such a popular citizen in our rural area and beyond? I do know in 1972, Mr. Gregory was awarded the President’s Award at the State Farm Bureau Insurance Association (Daily Record Nov. 15, 1972).
Another leader from the Coats area who made the news was Mrs. Mack R. Hudson with the Extension Homemakers. Juanita had joined three other Harnett ladies at the White House. Back in Coats, the Coats Cemetery Committee had a chicken stew supper at the Coats High School cafeteria (Daily Record Nov. 15, 1972).
The Coats Woman’s Club had met at the home of Mrs. Joe Tart. Mrs. Herbert Johnson presided and Mrs. Ronald Coats gave the treasurer’s report (Daily Record Nov. 16, 1972).
Mrs. Edith G. Moore and Mr. Rudolph Ennis were hospital patients. The Coats town books were audited by John Ingraham and found to be in good order.
Elsewhere, Dudley Denning, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lundy Denning, had received his Eagle Scout Award at the Coats Baptist Church. Dudley was a fourteen year-old freshman at Coats High School where he was class president. Pop Twyford, Harnett Scout Advancement chairman, presented the Eagle Badge to the young recipient. He had entered scouting at age 9. Gail Pope was Dudley’s scoutmaster. Assistant scoutmasters were Nathan Collier and Lundy Denning. Serving as ushers for the Court were Michael Pope, Wade Daniel, Duane Beasley, and B.W. Holland. Those participating in the ceremony were Haywood Collier, Kevin Pope, Kimry Gardner, Junior Lee, and Norfleet Gardner (Daily Record Nov. 21, 1972).
Mr. and Mrs. Milliard Whittington of Coats had celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at their home on Route One, Coats on November 12th. Their children gave the reception. Mrs.Frances Armstrong, Miss Rosalie Whittington, Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Whittington, Mrs. Rebecca Splawn and Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell Whittington were listed. Over 125 guests were in attendance at the beautifully decorated home for the occasion (Daily Record Nov. 21, 1972).
The Coats Methodists were to present the “Living Christ” series. Keith Stewart and Kent Turlington were two of 16 from Harnett County All-Conference Football Squad (Daily Record Nov. 21, 1972).
Cathy Powell of Coats was elected President of the N.C. Library Association. The same edition of the paper printed that the funeral services were held for Allen M. Byrd, 58, of Coats, a retired brick mason. They were at the Community Chapel Church by Rev. Lonnie Moore and Rev. Pearlene Parrish. Burial was in the family cemetery at Angier, Route 2. He was survived by his wife, Lydia Hughes Byrd; two daughters-Joyce Rollins and Brenda Overbee; three sons-Thomas, Jerry and Charles. His two sisters were Mrs. Ella Godwin and Mrs. Mattie Wiggins and two brothers were Charlie, Will and Kelly Byrd (Daily Record Nov. 30, 1972).
The first few days of December were spent in the hospital by Mrs. Lula Mae Hough and Ruby Rowland (Daily Record Dec.4, 1972).
Funeral Services were held for Bennett (Pete) Clevenger, 28, of Route 2, Angier. His services were held at the Coats United Methodist Church by the Reverends Ray Phillips and Howard Beard. Burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Mr. Clevenger was survived by his wife, Pamela Clevenger, a son, Bennett Clevenger, Jr.; his mother, Mrs. Gladys Clevenger; a sister, Mrs. Claude Henderson; two brothers-Keith and Joseph Clevenger (Daily Record Dec. 7, 1972).
Happier news came to the Ryals family in Coats where Mr. and Mrs. Larry Ryals announced the birth of a daughter, Teresa Lynn, on December 6th at the BJMH (Daily Record Dec. 8, 1972).
Heavy damage was done in an automobile accident north of Coats on NC55. A 1971 Buick driven by Linda P. Cobb was hit by Douglas Michael Lee who was charged for driving on wrong side of the road (Daily Record Dec. 7, 1972).
Gaynell Lee was crowned Miss Coats High School. Gaynell was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Lee of Coats and was the first black student voted to be Miss Coats High. Her senior attendants were Donna Penny, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Haywood Penny, and Yvonne McLean, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Correnor McLeod. Her junior attendants were Sue Lou Ogburn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Ogburn, and Mary McKoy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis McKoy. The sophomore attendants were Christol Ray, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Ray and Becky Suggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Suggs. The freshmen girls were Jenia Rowland, daughter of Rosa Rowland and Dianne Flowers, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Flowers. The new Miss Coats and her attendants were chosen by the student body at the school (Daily Record Dec. 11, 1972).
Mrs. Lila Bryant was a patient at GHH according to the Dec. 12 edition of the Daily Record.
Two Coats girls were preparing for Christmas. Each wrote Santa a letter and stated Christmas wishes. Annette Stewart, 10 years-old, wanted an organ, some boots, a case of Barbie dolls, a two-piece luggage set, toy electric sewing machine, elephant legs and a snowball machine. You must agree Annette gave lots of choices for Santa to bring. Wonder how many of them she received. What are elephant legs?
Little Shannon Lucas had sent her list to Santa and wanted a record player, some clothes, and lots of small toys for her 9-month-old sister Nicole Lucas (Daily Record Dec. 13, 1972).
Vic Lee’s Store, a landmark in the town of Coats, closed its doors after Mrs. Lerma Lee, widow of Vic Lee, decided it was time to call it quits last month. The store stood in the heart of Coats on Main Street. Mr. and Mrs. Vic Lee, who had been living in Dunn, moved back to their native Coats in 1946 to open a store that sold everything from grandpa’s hat to baby shoes. Vic Lee was in partnership with Thad Pope, the retired Dunn postmaster. The business grew so greatly, that in the fall of 1952, the Lee store needed to branch out. The Lees bought out the W.E. Nichols building in Coats, dissolved the partnership with Thad Pope and opened their own business known as the Vic Lee Department Store. Until his death in January 1968, the store was a family affair (Daily Record December 13, 1972).
Wayne Parrish, the nephew of Mrs. Lerma Parrish Lee, recalled that the department store was a place of play on Saturdays. He remembered that there was a platform in the back that was used as an elevator to raise stock up to the second floor for storage. It was about eight feet square and had no sides. To raise it, Wayne had to grasp a large hemp rope that was about two inches thick and threaded around a large steel wheel on the platform and wrapped around a similar wheel upstairs. Each pull of this rope would raise the platform he was standing on about one foot. By continuing to pull the rope, the platform was level with the second floor. There was locking bolt to secure it from moving again. The town boys had fun going up and down time after time on the platform. Wayne recalled that Stephens Hardware had a similar hand operated elevator but no one was allowed to play on it.
Wayne and his cousin Jerry Lee (Vic’s son) would unload a shipment of dry goods and move all of it upstairs by using the platform. Mr. Lee would give the boys some pocket money for help him and Wayne remembered they made the work into a game and had lots of fun playing on the elevator (Parrish Remembrances shared with me in 2004).
Eugene Stewart, a 19 year-squad veteran, was reelected chief of the Coats Fire Department. Other officers were J.L. Pleasant, assistant; James Grimes, captain; Donahue Stephenson, lieutenant and Charles Ennis, lieutenant. Joe Tart was secretary-treasurer. There were 19 men in the department (Daily Record Dec. 14, 1972). Was Grove Volunteer part of this squad?
US Congressman Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn was speaker at the 1972 Campbell College graduation ceremony. Dorn was vice chairman of the Veterans Committee, Chairman of its subcommittee on compensation and a member of its subcommittee on hospitals. Dorn was co-author of the Cold War GI Bill of Rights and was author of the Veterans Pension and Readjustment Act. He was a member of Public Works Committee that dealt with subcommittees on rivers and harbors, flood control and internal development roads, watershed development and investigations and oversight (Daily Record Dec. 14, 1972).Can a congressman be a chairman of a main committee if the President is of a different political party?
Why would Dorn even consider coming to Campbell College to be the graduation speaker? Before graduating from UNC School of Journalism in 1945, Dorn’s wife, the former Mildred Johnson of rural Coats, had graduated from Campbell College and Coats High School. She had met Congressman Dorn when she covered Capitol Hill for the US News magazine later to become US News and World Report. Several interesting facts are that Mildred Johnson covered events concerning John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Bryan Dorn who were all members of the 1946 freshmen class of US Congress.
The second interesting Dorn note is about Charles Malone. Charles was visiting the Coats Museum one day to share some of his political experiences while working on Capitol Hill in Washington. He gave the museum some materials from his run for US Congress a few years back. I shared that I had several sisters to also work on the Hill and one married Congressman Bryan Dorn whom she had met while working for a news magazine. He seemed somewhat surprised that a Coats graduate married a congressman but immediately shared that Congressman Bryan Dorn was the speaker at his Campbell College graduation ceremony in 1972. Do you remember your high school or college graduation speaker?
The name Carson Gregory is a familiar one to most folks in the Coats area. In fact, a country road is named after him. What did he do that made him such a popular citizen in our rural area and beyond? I do know in 1972, Mr. Gregory was awarded the President’s Award at the State Farm Bureau Insurance Association (Daily Record Nov. 15, 1972).
Another leader from the Coats area who made the news was Mrs. Mack R. Hudson with the Extension Homemakers. Juanita had joined three other Harnett ladies at the White House. Back in Coats, the Coats Cemetery Committee had a chicken stew supper at the Coats High School cafeteria (Daily Record Nov. 15, 1972).
The Coats Woman’s Club had met at the home of Mrs. Joe Tart. Mrs. Herbert Johnson presided and Mrs. Ronald Coats gave the treasurer’s report (Daily Record Nov. 16, 1972).
Mrs. Edith G. Moore and Mr. Rudolph Ennis were hospital patients. The Coats town books were audited by John Ingraham and found to be in good order.
Elsewhere, Dudley Denning, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lundy Denning, had received his Eagle Scout Award at the Coats Baptist Church. Dudley was a fourteen year-old freshman at Coats High School where he was class president. Pop Twyford, Harnett Scout Advancement chairman, presented the Eagle Badge to the young recipient. He had entered scouting at age 9. Gail Pope was Dudley’s scoutmaster. Assistant scoutmasters were Nathan Collier and Lundy Denning. Serving as ushers for the Court were Michael Pope, Wade Daniel, Duane Beasley, and B.W. Holland. Those participating in the ceremony were Haywood Collier, Kevin Pope, Kimry Gardner, Junior Lee, and Norfleet Gardner (Daily Record Nov. 21, 1972).
Mr. and Mrs. Milliard Whittington of Coats had celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at their home on Route One, Coats on November 12th. Their children gave the reception. Mrs.Frances Armstrong, Miss Rosalie Whittington, Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Whittington, Mrs. Rebecca Splawn and Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell Whittington were listed. Over 125 guests were in attendance at the beautifully decorated home for the occasion (Daily Record Nov. 21, 1972).
The Coats Methodists were to present the “Living Christ” series. Keith Stewart and Kent Turlington were two of 16 from Harnett County All-Conference Football Squad (Daily Record Nov. 21, 1972).
Cathy Powell of Coats was elected President of the N.C. Library Association. The same edition of the paper printed that the funeral services were held for Allen M. Byrd, 58, of Coats, a retired brick mason. They were at the Community Chapel Church by Rev. Lonnie Moore and Rev. Pearlene Parrish. Burial was in the family cemetery at Angier, Route 2. He was survived by his wife, Lydia Hughes Byrd; two daughters-Joyce Rollins and Brenda Overbee; three sons-Thomas, Jerry and Charles. His two sisters were Mrs. Ella Godwin and Mrs. Mattie Wiggins and two brothers were Charlie, Will and Kelly Byrd (Daily Record Nov. 30, 1972).
The first few days of December were spent in the hospital by Mrs. Lula Mae Hough and Ruby Rowland (Daily Record Dec.4, 1972).
Funeral Services were held for Bennett (Pete) Clevenger, 28, of Route 2, Angier. His services were held at the Coats United Methodist Church by the Reverends Ray Phillips and Howard Beard. Burial was in the Coats City Cemetery. Mr. Clevenger was survived by his wife, Pamela Clevenger, a son, Bennett Clevenger, Jr.; his mother, Mrs. Gladys Clevenger; a sister, Mrs. Claude Henderson; two brothers-Keith and Joseph Clevenger (Daily Record Dec. 7, 1972).
Happier news came to the Ryals family in Coats where Mr. and Mrs. Larry Ryals announced the birth of a daughter, Teresa Lynn, on December 6th at the BJMH (Daily Record Dec. 8, 1972).
Heavy damage was done in an automobile accident north of Coats on NC55. A 1971 Buick driven by Linda P. Cobb was hit by Douglas Michael Lee who was charged for driving on wrong side of the road (Daily Record Dec. 7, 1972).
Gaynell Lee was crowned Miss Coats High School. Gaynell was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Lee of Coats and was the first black student voted to be Miss Coats High. Her senior attendants were Donna Penny, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Haywood Penny, and Yvonne McLean, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Correnor McLeod. Her junior attendants were Sue Lou Ogburn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Ogburn, and Mary McKoy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis McKoy. The sophomore attendants were Christol Ray, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Ray and Becky Suggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Suggs. The freshmen girls were Jenia Rowland, daughter of Rosa Rowland and Dianne Flowers, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Flowers. The new Miss Coats and her attendants were chosen by the student body at the school (Daily Record Dec. 11, 1972).
Mrs. Lila Bryant was a patient at GHH according to the Dec. 12 edition of the Daily Record.
Two Coats girls were preparing for Christmas. Each wrote Santa a letter and stated Christmas wishes. Annette Stewart, 10 years-old, wanted an organ, some boots, a case of Barbie dolls, a two-piece luggage set, toy electric sewing machine, elephant legs and a snowball machine. You must agree Annette gave lots of choices for Santa to bring. Wonder how many of them she received. What are elephant legs?
Little Shannon Lucas had sent her list to Santa and wanted a record player, some clothes, and lots of small toys for her 9-month-old sister Nicole Lucas (Daily Record Dec. 13, 1972).
Vic Lee’s Store, a landmark in the town of Coats, closed its doors after Mrs. Lerma Lee, widow of Vic Lee, decided it was time to call it quits last month. The store stood in the heart of Coats on Main Street. Mr. and Mrs. Vic Lee, who had been living in Dunn, moved back to their native Coats in 1946 to open a store that sold everything from grandpa’s hat to baby shoes. Vic Lee was in partnership with Thad Pope, the retired Dunn postmaster. The business grew so greatly, that in the fall of 1952, the Lee store needed to branch out. The Lees bought out the W.E. Nichols building in Coats, dissolved the partnership with Thad Pope and opened their own business known as the Vic Lee Department Store. Until his death in January 1968, the store was a family affair (Daily Record December 13, 1972).
Wayne Parrish, the nephew of Mrs. Lerma Parrish Lee, recalled that the department store was a place of play on Saturdays. He remembered that there was a platform in the back that was used as an elevator to raise stock up to the second floor for storage. It was about eight feet square and had no sides. To raise it, Wayne had to grasp a large hemp rope that was about two inches thick and threaded around a large steel wheel on the platform and wrapped around a similar wheel upstairs. Each pull of this rope would raise the platform he was standing on about one foot. By continuing to pull the rope, the platform was level with the second floor. There was locking bolt to secure it from moving again. The town boys had fun going up and down time after time on the platform. Wayne recalled that Stephens Hardware had a similar hand operated elevator but no one was allowed to play on it.
Wayne and his cousin Jerry Lee (Vic’s son) would unload a shipment of dry goods and move all of it upstairs by using the platform. Mr. Lee would give the boys some pocket money for help him and Wayne remembered they made the work into a game and had lots of fun playing on the elevator (Parrish Remembrances shared with me in 2004).
Eugene Stewart, a 19 year-squad veteran, was reelected chief of the Coats Fire Department. Other officers were J.L. Pleasant, assistant; James Grimes, captain; Donahue Stephenson, lieutenant and Charles Ennis, lieutenant. Joe Tart was secretary-treasurer. There were 19 men in the department (Daily Record Dec. 14, 1972). Was Grove Volunteer part of this squad?
US Congressman Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn was speaker at the 1972 Campbell College graduation ceremony. Dorn was vice chairman of the Veterans Committee, Chairman of its subcommittee on compensation and a member of its subcommittee on hospitals. Dorn was co-author of the Cold War GI Bill of Rights and was author of the Veterans Pension and Readjustment Act. He was a member of Public Works Committee that dealt with subcommittees on rivers and harbors, flood control and internal development roads, watershed development and investigations and oversight (Daily Record Dec. 14, 1972).Can a congressman be a chairman of a main committee if the President is of a different political party?
Why would Dorn even consider coming to Campbell College to be the graduation speaker? Before graduating from UNC School of Journalism in 1945, Dorn’s wife, the former Mildred Johnson of rural Coats, had graduated from Campbell College and Coats High School. She had met Congressman Dorn when she covered Capitol Hill for the US News magazine later to become US News and World Report. Several interesting facts are that Mildred Johnson covered events concerning John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Bryan Dorn who were all members of the 1946 freshmen class of US Congress.
The second interesting Dorn note is about Charles Malone. Charles was visiting the Coats Museum one day to share some of his political experiences while working on Capitol Hill in Washington. He gave the museum some materials from his run for US Congress a few years back. I shared that I had several sisters to also work on the Hill and one married Congressman Bryan Dorn whom she had met while working for a news magazine. He seemed somewhat surprised that a Coats graduate married a congressman but immediately shared that Congressman Bryan Dorn was the speaker at his Campbell College graduation ceremony in 1972. Do you remember your high school or college graduation speaker?