September 6, 2013 Coats Museum News
Last week you read the Coats School memories of Hazel Pope Tart, widow of Lindsey Tart and mother of Joe and Linda. Hazel suggested that the Coats High School Class of 1944 historian Patty Wright Fleming could best tell the story of the class while they were in high school. Enjoy reading what Patty wrote about the four-year history of the class.
It was in September, 1940, that Coats High School started its fall semester with sixty-two freshmen students. Josie Thomas Jerome was the school principal and Ruth Summers, H.A. Godwin, and M.O. Phillips were class advisors. Patty Wright, Gene Stewart, and Graymon Powell were elected Student Council members. The motto was “Make the Best Better” and the school colors were red and white. Teeny Stewart, Phillip Whittington, and Wade Turlington were selected to represent the freshmen class in basketball. In September 1941, the sophomores began by selecting Hazel Tart as president and Graymon Powell as treasurer. Patty Wright was class reporter and Jesse Grimes was the air raid warden. (Did you have one of them when you went to school?)
On Sunday, December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed and shortly thereafter, America would enter WWII and by the end of the second semester, the sophomore class had somewhat dissipated. The men had become a minority as they began to join the armed services.
The waitresses for the Junior-Senior Banquet were chosen from the sophomore class. Those chosen were Hazel Tart, Patty Wright, Edna Pearl Grimes, Hazel Gregory and Teeny Stewart. Pearl Grimes was also chosen as a class marshal. By the fall of 1942, the war was increasing its tempo and once again decreasing the size of a junior class. Gas rations made it difficult to travel, and as result, activities were few and far between.
Teeny Stewart was elected junior class president; Edna Pearl Grimes was vice president; Patty Wright was secretary and Edna Pearl Grimes was chosen as class marshal. The class sold magazines to finance the Junior-Senior Banquet which was held on April 8th. Teeny Stewart was toastmaster and Edna Pearl Grimes made a speech to the seniors.
Elected officers for the senior class were Edna Pearl Grimes, Teeny Stewart, Pauline Graham, and Thurlene Pope. Patty Wright was selected class poet. Mabel Lynch was class sponsor and A. J. Dickson was the principal.
Despite the effects of the war, the seniors kept their spirits high. A play, “Beyond the Guns”, was presented along with a wiener roast at Holt’s Lake and a class night. The juniors honored the graduates with a banquet and Teeny Stewart presented the seniors gifts. Waitresses for the Junior-Senior Banquet were in the sophomore class. They wore white dresses and green shamrock aprons. Those chosen were were Sylvia Blalock, Christine Whittington, Addie Lee Pope, Nina Miller, Arlene Turlington, Ellen Jane Stewart, Ella Sue Reagan, Alice Anna Johnson , and Thelma Sauls ( Written by Patty Wright Fleming 1994).
Are any of these people alive today? I do know some graduates must have expressed love for Coats to their children. An example to make one think that was because Alice Anna Johnson Beckett’s two sons -Dr. Bill Beckett (Alabama) and Thomas Beckett (Colorada)- honored Alice Anna with a Gold Level plaque and a bench on the Coats Heritage Square during the town’s centennial project in 2005. Does anyone know anything about the other folks who were in high school during that period? Wasn’t Teeny’s son an FBI agent? Share with us.
I also know that it was in July of 1944 that Juanita Ogburn (Hudson) christened the USS Terrell in Wilmington. Her Johnston County 4-H Club was recognized for collecting the most scrap metal and Miss Ogburn wrote to President FDR to commend him on his doing a great job during this time of war and shared about the club’s accomplishment. He responded by letter, complimented her and asked about her christening a ship. The rest of the story can be seen in the Coats Museum.
Shall we now return to Hazel Tart’s story who recalled the senior play “Beyond the Guns”. Hazel sang “My Wild Irish Rose”. She was part of the family and recalled hanging out clothes in the play. Hazel remembered working in the cafeteria almost every day. Mrs. Summers taught Hazel Home Economics four years during high school. Her high school bus drivers were Carsie and Hyson Denning. She wrote that only four boys graduated with the class of 1944 (Hazel Tart 2004).
The Seniors of 1944 are thought to be Inez Hardison, Justine Barbour, Christine Neighbors, Pauline Graham, Grace Matthews, Patty Wright, Evelyn Grimes, Geraldine Powell, Carrine Hardison, Ruth Langdon, Graymon Powell, Wilma Ennis, Thurlene Pope, Hazel Pope, Juanita Tart, Melrose Rhiner, Rachel Stephenson, Melba J. West, Gene Stewart, Reba Barnes, Betty J. Williams, Watson Byrd, Christine Grimes, Teeny Stewart, Mary Harmon, Hazel Gregory, Audrey Stewart, Edna Elmore, Dorothy Sorrell, Dewey J. McLamb, Edna Pearl Grimes and Mable Johnson. Mable Lynch was sponsor (Together We Leave 1985).
The volunteers at the museum would love for the folks who attended the school during those war years gather at the museum and share more memories. Maybe the children of those who are deceased could attend and tell what life was like for their parents after they left Coats High School.
Mary Stephenson has been a faithful museum volunteer for over ten years and has served as our secretary to the committees and Board of Directors. She has experienced serious eye problems and has resigned from her position as secretary. Becky Adams will replace her. Lynda and Robie Butler have given an honorarium to the building fund as a big thank you to Mary. Mack and Juanita Hudson have been a part of the museum team for many years. Their collections of artifacts have been enjoyed by thousands. Not only do they share their collections but the Hudsons have faithfully supported all the projects on the Heritage Square. They have recently added to their earlier donation toward the exhibit hall. Thanks to them and all others who continue to give to help retire the debt on the new addition.
It is hard for those of us who worked with Christine Akerman Parrish not to be so affected by her death. She was our inspiration to be a better volunteer and to believe that one person can make a difference. We extend a big thank you again to her son, Stewart Akerman, for making the Coats Museum a designated recipient of memorials. A thank you goes to Patsy and Stacy Avery, Dorsey and Pauline Daniel, Becky and Dennis Adams, Robie and Lynda Butler, Gayle and H.L Sorrell, Diane Denning, Joy P. Johnson and Ann Beasley who have given memorials for Christine. Donnie Stanley, treasurer for the American Legion Riders of the Banner Post 109, dropped by the museum with a memorial check for Christine. Christine’s stepson, Ronnie Parrish, is one of the riders. The late Vickie Lou Lee Taylor was remembered by her Class of 1959. Many people in Coats remember Cecil Fuquay, who was son of Dr. Garner and Gladys Stewart Fuquay. Cecil taught school at Coats and later became principal at Lafayette. Cecil died in Raleigh last week and Robie and Lynda Butler and H.L and Gayle Sorrell gave to the museum building fund to honor him. Cecil had an outstanding military record and also served the town as a commissioner.
Please be mindful that this Coats Museum News appeared in the Daily Record in September of 2013.
Last week you read the Coats School memories of Hazel Pope Tart, widow of Lindsey Tart and mother of Joe and Linda. Hazel suggested that the Coats High School Class of 1944 historian Patty Wright Fleming could best tell the story of the class while they were in high school. Enjoy reading what Patty wrote about the four-year history of the class.
It was in September, 1940, that Coats High School started its fall semester with sixty-two freshmen students. Josie Thomas Jerome was the school principal and Ruth Summers, H.A. Godwin, and M.O. Phillips were class advisors. Patty Wright, Gene Stewart, and Graymon Powell were elected Student Council members. The motto was “Make the Best Better” and the school colors were red and white. Teeny Stewart, Phillip Whittington, and Wade Turlington were selected to represent the freshmen class in basketball. In September 1941, the sophomores began by selecting Hazel Tart as president and Graymon Powell as treasurer. Patty Wright was class reporter and Jesse Grimes was the air raid warden. (Did you have one of them when you went to school?)
On Sunday, December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed and shortly thereafter, America would enter WWII and by the end of the second semester, the sophomore class had somewhat dissipated. The men had become a minority as they began to join the armed services.
The waitresses for the Junior-Senior Banquet were chosen from the sophomore class. Those chosen were Hazel Tart, Patty Wright, Edna Pearl Grimes, Hazel Gregory and Teeny Stewart. Pearl Grimes was also chosen as a class marshal. By the fall of 1942, the war was increasing its tempo and once again decreasing the size of a junior class. Gas rations made it difficult to travel, and as result, activities were few and far between.
Teeny Stewart was elected junior class president; Edna Pearl Grimes was vice president; Patty Wright was secretary and Edna Pearl Grimes was chosen as class marshal. The class sold magazines to finance the Junior-Senior Banquet which was held on April 8th. Teeny Stewart was toastmaster and Edna Pearl Grimes made a speech to the seniors.
Elected officers for the senior class were Edna Pearl Grimes, Teeny Stewart, Pauline Graham, and Thurlene Pope. Patty Wright was selected class poet. Mabel Lynch was class sponsor and A. J. Dickson was the principal.
Despite the effects of the war, the seniors kept their spirits high. A play, “Beyond the Guns”, was presented along with a wiener roast at Holt’s Lake and a class night. The juniors honored the graduates with a banquet and Teeny Stewart presented the seniors gifts. Waitresses for the Junior-Senior Banquet were in the sophomore class. They wore white dresses and green shamrock aprons. Those chosen were were Sylvia Blalock, Christine Whittington, Addie Lee Pope, Nina Miller, Arlene Turlington, Ellen Jane Stewart, Ella Sue Reagan, Alice Anna Johnson , and Thelma Sauls ( Written by Patty Wright Fleming 1994).
Are any of these people alive today? I do know some graduates must have expressed love for Coats to their children. An example to make one think that was because Alice Anna Johnson Beckett’s two sons -Dr. Bill Beckett (Alabama) and Thomas Beckett (Colorada)- honored Alice Anna with a Gold Level plaque and a bench on the Coats Heritage Square during the town’s centennial project in 2005. Does anyone know anything about the other folks who were in high school during that period? Wasn’t Teeny’s son an FBI agent? Share with us.
I also know that it was in July of 1944 that Juanita Ogburn (Hudson) christened the USS Terrell in Wilmington. Her Johnston County 4-H Club was recognized for collecting the most scrap metal and Miss Ogburn wrote to President FDR to commend him on his doing a great job during this time of war and shared about the club’s accomplishment. He responded by letter, complimented her and asked about her christening a ship. The rest of the story can be seen in the Coats Museum.
Shall we now return to Hazel Tart’s story who recalled the senior play “Beyond the Guns”. Hazel sang “My Wild Irish Rose”. She was part of the family and recalled hanging out clothes in the play. Hazel remembered working in the cafeteria almost every day. Mrs. Summers taught Hazel Home Economics four years during high school. Her high school bus drivers were Carsie and Hyson Denning. She wrote that only four boys graduated with the class of 1944 (Hazel Tart 2004).
The Seniors of 1944 are thought to be Inez Hardison, Justine Barbour, Christine Neighbors, Pauline Graham, Grace Matthews, Patty Wright, Evelyn Grimes, Geraldine Powell, Carrine Hardison, Ruth Langdon, Graymon Powell, Wilma Ennis, Thurlene Pope, Hazel Pope, Juanita Tart, Melrose Rhiner, Rachel Stephenson, Melba J. West, Gene Stewart, Reba Barnes, Betty J. Williams, Watson Byrd, Christine Grimes, Teeny Stewart, Mary Harmon, Hazel Gregory, Audrey Stewart, Edna Elmore, Dorothy Sorrell, Dewey J. McLamb, Edna Pearl Grimes and Mable Johnson. Mable Lynch was sponsor (Together We Leave 1985).
The volunteers at the museum would love for the folks who attended the school during those war years gather at the museum and share more memories. Maybe the children of those who are deceased could attend and tell what life was like for their parents after they left Coats High School.
Mary Stephenson has been a faithful museum volunteer for over ten years and has served as our secretary to the committees and Board of Directors. She has experienced serious eye problems and has resigned from her position as secretary. Becky Adams will replace her. Lynda and Robie Butler have given an honorarium to the building fund as a big thank you to Mary. Mack and Juanita Hudson have been a part of the museum team for many years. Their collections of artifacts have been enjoyed by thousands. Not only do they share their collections but the Hudsons have faithfully supported all the projects on the Heritage Square. They have recently added to their earlier donation toward the exhibit hall. Thanks to them and all others who continue to give to help retire the debt on the new addition.
It is hard for those of us who worked with Christine Akerman Parrish not to be so affected by her death. She was our inspiration to be a better volunteer and to believe that one person can make a difference. We extend a big thank you again to her son, Stewart Akerman, for making the Coats Museum a designated recipient of memorials. A thank you goes to Patsy and Stacy Avery, Dorsey and Pauline Daniel, Becky and Dennis Adams, Robie and Lynda Butler, Gayle and H.L Sorrell, Diane Denning, Joy P. Johnson and Ann Beasley who have given memorials for Christine. Donnie Stanley, treasurer for the American Legion Riders of the Banner Post 109, dropped by the museum with a memorial check for Christine. Christine’s stepson, Ronnie Parrish, is one of the riders. The late Vickie Lou Lee Taylor was remembered by her Class of 1959. Many people in Coats remember Cecil Fuquay, who was son of Dr. Garner and Gladys Stewart Fuquay. Cecil taught school at Coats and later became principal at Lafayette. Cecil died in Raleigh last week and Robie and Lynda Butler and H.L and Gayle Sorrell gave to the museum building fund to honor him. Cecil had an outstanding military record and also served the town as a commissioner.
Please be mindful that this Coats Museum News appeared in the Daily Record in September of 2013.