September 27, 2019 Coats Museum News
The month on the calendar displayed November, 1979 and the news in the Nov. 14, 1979 edition of the Daily Record shared that Annette Jackson and Max Mathews, Jr. planned to exchange vows on Dec. 15th at a home ceremony.
The Daily Record edition of Nov. 16th recorded that Airman First Class and Mrs. Mark Stevens of Coats had announced the birth of a son, Mark Anthony Stevens. The mother was the former Janice Matthews and the paternal grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Earl Stevens of Coats.
It seems that marriage is a lasting pledge for many of the folks in the Coats area. You have recently read in the column that couples have celebrated not only 50th wedding anniversaries but also 60th ones. Once again we read that a couple had reached the 50th landmark.
Mr. and Mrs. Silas Moore celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Dr. and Mrs. Robert R. Morrison, Jr. and their children hosted the event at Red Hill Free Will Baptist Church with catering service by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Denning. Mrs. Moore was the former Gertie Smith Norris, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bert Norris. Mr. Moore was a retired farmer and the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sir Will Moore. The couple had one daughter and four grandchildren (Daily Record Nov. 28, 1979).
For those of you who travel the roads around Grove Township, can you tell me on what road the couple lived? I do know that most of you will recognize the names of the following couple. Mr. and Mrs. Ronny Denning were parents of a son, Brian Denning. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mabry and Mr. and Mrs. James Denning were the grandparents (Daily November 28, 1979).
It was basketball season at Coats High and the team had defeated the Clements boys by a 59-53 score. Gary McKoy, Tony West, and Charles Johnson accounted for 37 of the 59 for the Coats team. Edward McDuffie and Roger Jernigan combined 17 points (Daily Record Dec. 3, 1979).
Did Charles, Tony and Roger die as young men? They were so loved and admired by many. Have you ever made the statement-“I wish I had known.”? When teaching at Coats in the time frame of this group of students, the staff had after school faculty meetings. Roger Jernigan was the young high school student who kept a watchful eye on and even entertained with basketball antics for my son and daughter who were only in kindergarten and second grade at the time.
After our son graduated from the NC State School of Veterinary Medicine, he left NC to practice medicine in Virginia Beach. When visiting us, he often asks about certain teachers and students from his school days here. Roger Jernigan was one of them. When I shared that Roger Jernigan had become a preacher in Virginia Beach and had recently died there, what did Bryan say? I wish I had known.
When December appears on the calendar, we watch as the young folks are excited about Christmas plays and Santa’s visit. (Pretty much like we older folks look forward to the Hallmark Christmas movies on television). For sure, we know some kids used the Daily Record as a means to get a letter to old St. Nick in the North Pole. Nickie Johnson wrote to Santa every year so the practice must have been effective. These letters from children are a history lesson into what were popular toys and fads in that year. For example, Nickie wanted a professor calculator, dollhouse, a kissing Barbie, sweat suit size 7, a beanbag, and a Farrah Glamour head. (Who remembers that name “Farrah” from Charlie’s Angels on television?)
I do know you will remember Shannon Lucas. Her parents, Roger and Janice Lucas, were always involved in the Coats Farmers Day events. This time Shannon made the news because she was Maid of Honor to Tara Johnson who was the Pee Wee Homecoming Queen. Tara was Nickie’s older sister and daughter of Doug and Freda Johnson (Daily Record Dec. 5, 1979).
Coats had advantages from being a small school stated Principal Joe Hawley. The small school enabled everyone to know everyone, which was not possible in larger schools (Daily Record Dec. 6, 1979).
I was fortunate to have been not only a student but also a teacher under Joe Hawley. He was principal when Coats, Erwin, and Dunn consolidated into Triton High School. Hence, he along with Marie Salmon and her photography students and volunteers from classes dating back to 1925 were able to pull together a reunion celebration bringing back thousands of students from over the world who had been one of those students who had graduated in one of those small classes from 1925-1985 of which Mr. Hawley spoke.
Because of that 1985 Coats School Reunion, we were able to publish pictures of those graduates from those 60 years of graduating classes. It was amazing how students from different generations knew the students from older or younger ones. Former students of the seven Grove District schools recalled classmates and teachers and even shared how we could get in contact with many of them. This project would have been harder, if not impossible, to do in a mega school.
When the graduate contact information was returned to be published in the book “Together We Leave”, it was verified that small schools do produce highly successful citizens. With the limited science courses available in earlier years, we were amazed at the number of doctors who had a Coats High School diploma. One of them was Dr. Nathan Campbell, 1934 Coats graduate, who was a surgeon in Oregon and responded to our reunion questionnaire for the “Together We Leave”. B.W. Holland and Don Ennis are relatives who recently shared additional information about Dr. Campbell. The Coats Museum has a huge book with the pictures and information on our other medical professionals who have their roots in Coats.
Another benefit gained from the Coats Reunion project was the fact that some of those same organizers of the school reunion event initiated the building of the original Coats Museum, the Cotton Museum and later the Kress and Nell Penny Williams Exhibit Hall. As former Coats student, Dr. Brian Davis, said to us at the museum one day, “A short runway is no excuse for not being successful.”
Wonder what it would be like to have a newborn in your house at Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Gale Barefoot had announced the birth of Brice Edward Barefoot. The mom was the former Carol Barefoot. Mr. and Mrs. Leon Barefoot and Mrs. Grace Barefoot were grandparents (Daily Record Dec. 6, 1979). Did you notice that Carol did not have to change her name on any documents?
Gary McKoy stepped up to the free throw line with 16 seconds remaining on the clock. He connected on both ends of the one and one and gave Coats a four point edge. The final score was a 59-55 as Coats defeated the Erwin team in a “Barn Burner.”
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hardison of Coats announced the birth of a son, Kenneth Bradford Hardison. The mother was the former Terry Moore (Daily Record Dec.11, 1979).
The young athletes who had played Pee Wee football were honored at a banquet catered by BJ’s Burger Hut. Doug Stevens, recreational director, presented Clay Stephenson with the “Most Valuable Player of the Year” Coats Commissioner J.C. Allen welcomed the group and shared the good news that the new recreation park was near completion (Daily Record Dec. 18, 1979).
Infant Stephen Lamar Grimes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Grimes of Coats, was buried on Wednesday at the Coats City Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Silas Faulkner of Route 1, Coats, announced the birth of a daughter in GHH in Erwin. The mother was the former Etheleen Carroll (Daily Record Dec. 31, 1979).
Another decade of the 20th Century had closed its pages on the 1970’s. It was also the time to add the death date of Adron H. “Adie” O’Neal, 82, of Coats into the family Bible. Mr. O’Neal left his surviving wife, Mrs. Minnie McLamb; one son, Cray O’Neal; and three daughters –Mrs. Alonzo Fry, Mrs. Fred West, and Mrs. Eddie White (Daily Record Dec. 31, 1979).
If you recently have traveled on McKinley Street, did you notice the beautiful barn quilts on the Coats Museum? Did you observe that they were black and gold? They were painted by museum volunteer Sandy Kay Howard. Sandy has touched the lives of countless Grove families in her role as a teacher and principal. Now outside of the school system, Sandy’s caring and giving spirit continues to be shared in her volunteer work in the Coats Museum, Kiwanis Club, Campbell University and others. Thank you, Sandra Kay Howard.
The volunteers really enjoyed giving tours to the folks from Divine Street Methodist Church from Dunn and the Coats High School Class of 1969 who met at the Coats Museum during the celebration of their 50th Reunion on the 14th of September. Most of the classmates live in NC but Ricky Suggs flew in from the United Kingdom and Linda Weaver drove in from Norfolk, VA with her son and grandson.
Michael Smith taught in Junior High at Coats for years and is remembered for his coaching baseball to award winning teams. Carletta and Don Ennis who played on the winning teams for Mike Smith remembered this former coach with a very generous honorarium to the Coats Museum. Another 1969 graduate who has over and over supported the Coats Museum with memorials, honorariums, and donations is Dana Coats Byrd. Dana must have inherited the generosity gene of her great-great granddaddy Preacher Tom Coats who gave the land for the railroad and depot, the City Cemetery and the Gift Primitive Baptist Church. Thank you goes to both from the folks who volunteer at the museum.
Wanda Moody is a military veteran who can be seen entering the museum from time to time. Her husband Leon Moody, also a veteran, recently died. He has been remembered with a memorial to the Coats Museum by H.L. and Gayle Sorrell. Marc and Jean Powell dropped by the museum to give a memorial for David Denning who was in David and Jean’s wedding. Thank you, Marc and Jean.
The Coats Museum has been so fortunate to always have outstanding board members who support the activities and needs of the museums. Last Saturday, Patsy Avery, Misty Gil, Eric Hollis and Marc Powell were welcomed aboard as the Class of 2022. Should you see them around town, thank them for their support of the museum.
The month on the calendar displayed November, 1979 and the news in the Nov. 14, 1979 edition of the Daily Record shared that Annette Jackson and Max Mathews, Jr. planned to exchange vows on Dec. 15th at a home ceremony.
The Daily Record edition of Nov. 16th recorded that Airman First Class and Mrs. Mark Stevens of Coats had announced the birth of a son, Mark Anthony Stevens. The mother was the former Janice Matthews and the paternal grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Earl Stevens of Coats.
It seems that marriage is a lasting pledge for many of the folks in the Coats area. You have recently read in the column that couples have celebrated not only 50th wedding anniversaries but also 60th ones. Once again we read that a couple had reached the 50th landmark.
Mr. and Mrs. Silas Moore celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Dr. and Mrs. Robert R. Morrison, Jr. and their children hosted the event at Red Hill Free Will Baptist Church with catering service by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Denning. Mrs. Moore was the former Gertie Smith Norris, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bert Norris. Mr. Moore was a retired farmer and the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sir Will Moore. The couple had one daughter and four grandchildren (Daily Record Nov. 28, 1979).
For those of you who travel the roads around Grove Township, can you tell me on what road the couple lived? I do know that most of you will recognize the names of the following couple. Mr. and Mrs. Ronny Denning were parents of a son, Brian Denning. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mabry and Mr. and Mrs. James Denning were the grandparents (Daily November 28, 1979).
It was basketball season at Coats High and the team had defeated the Clements boys by a 59-53 score. Gary McKoy, Tony West, and Charles Johnson accounted for 37 of the 59 for the Coats team. Edward McDuffie and Roger Jernigan combined 17 points (Daily Record Dec. 3, 1979).
Did Charles, Tony and Roger die as young men? They were so loved and admired by many. Have you ever made the statement-“I wish I had known.”? When teaching at Coats in the time frame of this group of students, the staff had after school faculty meetings. Roger Jernigan was the young high school student who kept a watchful eye on and even entertained with basketball antics for my son and daughter who were only in kindergarten and second grade at the time.
After our son graduated from the NC State School of Veterinary Medicine, he left NC to practice medicine in Virginia Beach. When visiting us, he often asks about certain teachers and students from his school days here. Roger Jernigan was one of them. When I shared that Roger Jernigan had become a preacher in Virginia Beach and had recently died there, what did Bryan say? I wish I had known.
When December appears on the calendar, we watch as the young folks are excited about Christmas plays and Santa’s visit. (Pretty much like we older folks look forward to the Hallmark Christmas movies on television). For sure, we know some kids used the Daily Record as a means to get a letter to old St. Nick in the North Pole. Nickie Johnson wrote to Santa every year so the practice must have been effective. These letters from children are a history lesson into what were popular toys and fads in that year. For example, Nickie wanted a professor calculator, dollhouse, a kissing Barbie, sweat suit size 7, a beanbag, and a Farrah Glamour head. (Who remembers that name “Farrah” from Charlie’s Angels on television?)
I do know you will remember Shannon Lucas. Her parents, Roger and Janice Lucas, were always involved in the Coats Farmers Day events. This time Shannon made the news because she was Maid of Honor to Tara Johnson who was the Pee Wee Homecoming Queen. Tara was Nickie’s older sister and daughter of Doug and Freda Johnson (Daily Record Dec. 5, 1979).
Coats had advantages from being a small school stated Principal Joe Hawley. The small school enabled everyone to know everyone, which was not possible in larger schools (Daily Record Dec. 6, 1979).
I was fortunate to have been not only a student but also a teacher under Joe Hawley. He was principal when Coats, Erwin, and Dunn consolidated into Triton High School. Hence, he along with Marie Salmon and her photography students and volunteers from classes dating back to 1925 were able to pull together a reunion celebration bringing back thousands of students from over the world who had been one of those students who had graduated in one of those small classes from 1925-1985 of which Mr. Hawley spoke.
Because of that 1985 Coats School Reunion, we were able to publish pictures of those graduates from those 60 years of graduating classes. It was amazing how students from different generations knew the students from older or younger ones. Former students of the seven Grove District schools recalled classmates and teachers and even shared how we could get in contact with many of them. This project would have been harder, if not impossible, to do in a mega school.
When the graduate contact information was returned to be published in the book “Together We Leave”, it was verified that small schools do produce highly successful citizens. With the limited science courses available in earlier years, we were amazed at the number of doctors who had a Coats High School diploma. One of them was Dr. Nathan Campbell, 1934 Coats graduate, who was a surgeon in Oregon and responded to our reunion questionnaire for the “Together We Leave”. B.W. Holland and Don Ennis are relatives who recently shared additional information about Dr. Campbell. The Coats Museum has a huge book with the pictures and information on our other medical professionals who have their roots in Coats.
Another benefit gained from the Coats Reunion project was the fact that some of those same organizers of the school reunion event initiated the building of the original Coats Museum, the Cotton Museum and later the Kress and Nell Penny Williams Exhibit Hall. As former Coats student, Dr. Brian Davis, said to us at the museum one day, “A short runway is no excuse for not being successful.”
Wonder what it would be like to have a newborn in your house at Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Gale Barefoot had announced the birth of Brice Edward Barefoot. The mom was the former Carol Barefoot. Mr. and Mrs. Leon Barefoot and Mrs. Grace Barefoot were grandparents (Daily Record Dec. 6, 1979). Did you notice that Carol did not have to change her name on any documents?
Gary McKoy stepped up to the free throw line with 16 seconds remaining on the clock. He connected on both ends of the one and one and gave Coats a four point edge. The final score was a 59-55 as Coats defeated the Erwin team in a “Barn Burner.”
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hardison of Coats announced the birth of a son, Kenneth Bradford Hardison. The mother was the former Terry Moore (Daily Record Dec.11, 1979).
The young athletes who had played Pee Wee football were honored at a banquet catered by BJ’s Burger Hut. Doug Stevens, recreational director, presented Clay Stephenson with the “Most Valuable Player of the Year” Coats Commissioner J.C. Allen welcomed the group and shared the good news that the new recreation park was near completion (Daily Record Dec. 18, 1979).
Infant Stephen Lamar Grimes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Grimes of Coats, was buried on Wednesday at the Coats City Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Silas Faulkner of Route 1, Coats, announced the birth of a daughter in GHH in Erwin. The mother was the former Etheleen Carroll (Daily Record Dec. 31, 1979).
Another decade of the 20th Century had closed its pages on the 1970’s. It was also the time to add the death date of Adron H. “Adie” O’Neal, 82, of Coats into the family Bible. Mr. O’Neal left his surviving wife, Mrs. Minnie McLamb; one son, Cray O’Neal; and three daughters –Mrs. Alonzo Fry, Mrs. Fred West, and Mrs. Eddie White (Daily Record Dec. 31, 1979).
If you recently have traveled on McKinley Street, did you notice the beautiful barn quilts on the Coats Museum? Did you observe that they were black and gold? They were painted by museum volunteer Sandy Kay Howard. Sandy has touched the lives of countless Grove families in her role as a teacher and principal. Now outside of the school system, Sandy’s caring and giving spirit continues to be shared in her volunteer work in the Coats Museum, Kiwanis Club, Campbell University and others. Thank you, Sandra Kay Howard.
The volunteers really enjoyed giving tours to the folks from Divine Street Methodist Church from Dunn and the Coats High School Class of 1969 who met at the Coats Museum during the celebration of their 50th Reunion on the 14th of September. Most of the classmates live in NC but Ricky Suggs flew in from the United Kingdom and Linda Weaver drove in from Norfolk, VA with her son and grandson.
Michael Smith taught in Junior High at Coats for years and is remembered for his coaching baseball to award winning teams. Carletta and Don Ennis who played on the winning teams for Mike Smith remembered this former coach with a very generous honorarium to the Coats Museum. Another 1969 graduate who has over and over supported the Coats Museum with memorials, honorariums, and donations is Dana Coats Byrd. Dana must have inherited the generosity gene of her great-great granddaddy Preacher Tom Coats who gave the land for the railroad and depot, the City Cemetery and the Gift Primitive Baptist Church. Thank you goes to both from the folks who volunteer at the museum.
Wanda Moody is a military veteran who can be seen entering the museum from time to time. Her husband Leon Moody, also a veteran, recently died. He has been remembered with a memorial to the Coats Museum by H.L. and Gayle Sorrell. Marc and Jean Powell dropped by the museum to give a memorial for David Denning who was in David and Jean’s wedding. Thank you, Marc and Jean.
The Coats Museum has been so fortunate to always have outstanding board members who support the activities and needs of the museums. Last Saturday, Patsy Avery, Misty Gil, Eric Hollis and Marc Powell were welcomed aboard as the Class of 2022. Should you see them around town, thank them for their support of the museum.