Wadeford Coats

Coats: Mr. Wadeford D. Coats, age 86, died Saturday at Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Benson. Funeral Service will be 2:00PM Tuesday September 11, 2012 at Pleasant Union Christian Church in Lillington. Officiating will be Rev. Carey Snelling.  Burial will follow in Coats City Cemetery. Mr. Coats was born in Harnett County on December 30, 1925 to the late Zelotis and Myrtle Nordan Coats. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Mary Holmes Coats, and a son, David D. Coats and a brother, Sherrill T. Coats.  Mr. Coats retired after 36 years as an insurance agent with State Capital and Durham Life Insurance Companies. He was a former farmer and owner of Coats Wood Yard and after retirement he drove the train at Pullen Park in Raleigh. Mr. Coats was the oldest living descendent of Elder James Thomas Coats, the founder of Coats. He served as an elder and Sunday School Superintendent at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church and in 1977 moved his membership to Pleasant Union Christian Church were he served as a deacon.   Surviving include Children and Spouses, Danny W. Coats of Benson, Dana C. and Randy Byrd of Benson, Marilyn C. and Edgar Starnes of Hickory; Four Grandchildren, John H. Coats, Katie E. Coats, Brady M. Byrd, Mary Catherine Starnes; One Great-Grandson, John Preston Coats; Several Nieces and Nephews. Family will receive friends at Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Coats Monday September 10, 2012 from 6:00pm until 8:00pm and other times at the home of Dana and Randy Byrd, 741 Pleasant Hill Church Rd. Benson, NC 27504. Flowers are welcome; however memorial may be made to Pleasant Union Christian Church, 2164 Neill’s Creek Rd., Lillington, NC 27546