WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republicans on Thursday celebrated the addition of former Democratic Rep. Virgil Goode of Virginia to their policy-making caucus, putting a small crimp in the Democratic drive to recapture the House.
Goode, 53, a conservative who has frequently voted with the Republicans, announced on Monday that he was leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent. He stressed Thursday that he will run for his 5th District seat as an independent but will join the House Republican conference and would vote for current Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., over Democratic leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri in the next vote for House speaker.
Republicans rewarded Goode by assigning him a seat on the Appropriations Committee, which decides how federal money will be spent.
''You've been one of us all along,'' said the committee chairman, Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla.
Goode was flanked at a news conference by Hastert, other Republican leaders, members of the Virginia Republican delegation and Virginia Sen. John Warner, who said Goode had shown ''the rarest commodity today in politics and that's courage.''
Democrats said Goode, first elected to Congress in 1996, was responding to concerns about redistricting that would make his constituency in tobacco-growing regions of southern Virginia more Republican.
''In my view, Virgil Goode's decision today wasn't the brave act of a maverick - he buckled under to Republican threats on redistricting his seat out from under him,'' Gephardt said.
In Virginia, Del. Kenneth Plum, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said the announcement came as a big disappointment. ''Our thought was that he would caucus with us until he sees the outcome of the election.''
Plum, of Fairfax, said there had been speculation that Republicans, who control the legislature, were prepared to put Goode and U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, in the same district in next year's redistricting unless Goode made a move.
''It sounds like he negotiated to insulate himself in redistricting and to get a committee assigment,'' Plum said.
''Congressman Goode is going to be between a rock and a hard place when Democrats take over the House of Representatives in the next election.''
State Sen. J. Randy Forbes, chairman of the state GOP, said he had expected Goode to side with the Republicans.
''Virgil, through his votes and value system, believes the Republican leadership is taking this country in the right direction, and this decision to caucus with us proves that,'' Forbes said.
Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said it was a ''shameless act of self-preservation'' taken only after Republicans this month took over the Virginia General Assembly, which will redraw congressional district lines next year.
While Goode is not formally a Republican, his decision to vote for Hastert over Gephardt for speaker could be crucial in determining who controls the House in the next session of Congress.
With Goode's defection, Republicans outnumber Democrats in the House by 222-211, with Goode joining Vermont Rep. Bernie Sanders - who usually votes with the Democrats - as the second independent

Worst snow storm of the century ... or worst of a lifetime.
Whatever the case, the blizzard of 2000 continues to make news and conversation, and may even be bringing out the best in some residents who are helping others dig out from under a foot or more of snow that brought normal commerce and travel to a grinding halt in South Boston earlier this week.
Deputies Deliver Patients
South Boston Dialysis on Hamilton Boulevard has 90 patients who visit the facility three times weekly for treatments, often during late-evening and early-morning hours. Three shifts of doctors and nurses are there to administer the lifesaving procedure needed by persons suffering with diabetes.
During the height of the snow storm Tuesday, two patients were transported by Halifax County Sheriff's Deputies to the clinic. Another patient who lives in Chase City, drove himself to the clinic and returned home safely.
"We had a few who didn't show up," said Sharon Tuck, director of clinical services. To compensate for the increased demand for dialysis units, the clinic ran four shifts in order to catch up and bring conditions back to normal.
Dialysis patients can generally miss one treatment without experiencing problems provided they watch carefully their intake of fluids and diets. "But weekends are tricky," said Tuck who made note of the two days - rather than one - between treatments during the week.
No one being treated by South Boston Dialysis, however, was hospitalized as a direct relation to missing a treatment.
Mail Deliveries Interrupted
Virgilina Postmaster Carl Hudson pulled out his old John Deere tractor and headed for work Tuesday morning, a journey that took him eight miles into town and one that lasted almost two hours.
Before he reached the post office, Hudson said that he pulled six, four-wheel-drive vehicles and one other tractor out of ditches.
On his return home that evening, he rescued two more stranded four-wheelers who, had he not happened by, might have found themselves in troubles deeper than the 18 to 20 inches of snow that fell in the Virgilina area.
Mail delivery for South Boston and much of Halifax County was almost completely down on Tuesday and even by yesterday, was still not back to normal.
Those secondary roads that have been plowed have left most boxes covered and difficult for carriers to reach. City carriers making their rounds on foot in South Boston often face even more difficulties walking in knee-deep snow and ice covered streets and sidewalks to delivery mail.
Customer Service Supervisor Wingate Eakes in the South Boston Post Office said yesterday that an estimated 20 percent of the mail could not be delivered yesterday.
"If we can get to the boxes, safely, we will delivery," Eakes added.
Postal employees are bracing for yet another predicted winter weather event this weekend and the normal heavy mailings which occur at the first of each month.
Hospital
Soon after the deluge of snow tapered off Tuesday afternoon, people with four-wheel-drive vehicles ventured out to help their stranded neighbors, and even earlier, many of these individuals volunteered to help transport otherwise stranded medical personnel to Halifax Regional Health Center.
"So many people had to work together," commented hospital spokesperson Donna Strange.
The hospital activated its command center with the Facilities Department and Security when the storm began, and soon after the call for volunteers went out over the radio, the staff was fielding calls from people with four-wheel-drive vehicles.
It was up to the Senior Nurse Manager, Yvonne Medley, to make the call on essential personnel, Strange said.
"Then Chief of Security Steve Chipps Sr. and Facilities Coordinator Rita Trent found out where people lived and got their phone numbers, then dispatched drivers to go get them," Strange said.
"These volunteers mean a whole lot. They came from all over the county and worked with our own employees who had four-wheel-drive vehicles," Strange continued. "We had plenty of people on hand - non-clinical volunteers who came in and did everything from filling water containers to giving baths. And if need be, we can do it again this weekend."
Should the need arise again, Strange said volunteers need only to call the hospital's main number (517-3100) and leave their name, location and phone number.
Rescue Squads Respond
The snow and ice didn't stop the rescue squads, either.
In one case where a rabies victim could not come in for treatment, the rescue squad brought the shot, which must be administered on-schedule, to him in Mt. Laurel, Halifax Rescue personnel confirmed.
"We've got one unit that has four-wheel drive and another with chains, so while it might have taken us a little longer to respond to calls during the storm, we'd get there safely," said Halifax Rescue Squad secretary Thurstie Lowery. "The local fire departments were a great help, too, and often got to patients before we could."
Fortunately, Lowery said, there were few medical emergencies during the storm.
The American Red Cross of Halifax was ready to help, too, according to local director Ginger Weaver.
"I monitor the power companies to make sure people are in and that they have power, otherwise people can reach me for help by calling 517-3100 and having the hospital page me," Weaver said.
"This time I didn't really get many calls, and those I did, I handled on a case-by-case basis," she continued. "There was a traveler that was out of money, and there was also an elderly man who called who said he didn't have any heat and his daughter lived four hours away. In this case, I spoke to the neighbor, who said she would take care of him."
Aside from bringing out the Samaritan qualities in many local residents, the heavy storm also acted as a reminder not to take for granted nature's strength and unpredictably.
"People really need to make provisions, just like every day was Y2K," Weaver said.
"It is also a very good idea to keep extra clothes and a blanket in your vehicle," suggested Lowery. "And when the state police say to stay off the roads, do so. Exercise caution."

News that the area may face yet another round of winter weather this weekend inspired groans from local residents and road crews that are still battling the lingering effects of the Southern Nor'easter that paralyzed the county earlier this week.
This week's blizzard may not have been as bad as the storm that hit Halifax County in 1940, but it was bad enough.
Many secondary roads remain buried under a stubborn layer of hard-packed snow and ice despite efforts of town and state road crews, who are still working around the clock even after two snowless days.
"We still have some ice on some side streets and a lot of people don't understand what has happened," said Ron Marshall, South Boston Public Works director. "When you have a storm like we had, which has officially been called a blizzard, you have to concentrate on the main roads, because as soon as you make a pass, the snow blows back over the roadway.
"We had to leave the side roads until later. The problem there was that these roads were a little warmer, and when the snow fell it bonded with the pavement. The longer we had to wait, the thicker the ice got," Marshall explained.
Once that happened, not even a blade could pry the stubborn sheet of ice and snow from the roads, Marshall said, adding that two trucks were out of commission during the storm, and the only outside help that was available came in the form of a grader from Halifax Paving.
"We'll go back and scrape them, but you just can't scrape through the bond of ice. It's very difficult to get off," he said.
In order to budge this frozen layer, road crews need a little help from Mother Nature in the form of warm temperatures and sunshine, or expensive applications of calcium chloride, something Marshall said is not in South Boston's budget.
"The town literally can't afford it. It's like $100 per ton or more. It is very expensive," he said. "So right now, we're trying to push snow off the residential roads to make things a little more accessible and convenient. People just have to understand that it takes time to get that crust off."
But despite the town's limitations, Marshall said the two eight-man crews did a great job.
"I think they did a great job.," Marshall said. "I have worked for other towns and for the state, and with the break-downs we had, the crews did an incredible job for the amount of people and equipment that was available."
Virginia Department of Transportation crews continued to clear roads throughout the county on Wednesday, and hoped to have the secondary as well as primary road system clear by this evening.
"While the primary roads are clear, many of the secondary roads are still in what we call condition two and three, which means there is still a lot of snow and ice remaining," said Zach Weddle, VDOT assistant resident engineer. "We attacked this storm like any other, with the exception of calling in as many private pieces of equipment as we could.
It just dumped so much at one time, and that got packed down," Weddle said. "We will continue to work our crews 24-hours and keep applying abrasives. Plus, we're restocking all our chemicals to be ready for this weekend."
So far, the National Weather Service has not predicted any major storms for the weekend, however, there is a chance of mixed precipitation.
But while it may not snow, neither is it expected to warm up much, either, as temperatures are predicted to hover in the 30s.
"We're getting another load of salt in (Thursday), and hopefully all of the trucks will be running, so we should be prepared for whatever comes next," Marshall said. "But hopefully, the weather will hold off where we can all get a little rest."

The recent rash of snow storms has wreaked havoc with the county's school schedules.
But, the tough bout of winter weather may also be a blessing in disguise.
The down side is that the missed days from school have already eaten up the makeup days that had been specified in the school system's 1999-2000 school calendar - and then some.
Everything from a teacher workday in March, to Memorial Day, to Easter Monday, has now gone by the wayside.
Students and teachers alike will now spend those holidays in class.
On the up side, school system officials say Halifax County has missed enough days that it will now qualify for a waiver from the State Department of Education that allows school to start here in late August rather than the day after Labor Day.
"We've already run the numbers," said Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt, "and we will qualify for that.
"That's pretty much a done deal," he added.
"We fit the criteria. If the School Board approves it, we will submit a waiver."
Witt has been an opponent of the state legislation that prohibits public schools in the Commonwealth from opening prior to Labor Day without receiving a special waiver from the State Department of Education.
"There is a bill up there (in the General Assembly) to repeal that (law)," Witt pointed out.
The law that is currently in place, Witt said, "is one of the ridiculous pieces of legislation in the state. It's contrary to everything everybody says. That's just my opinion."
For the first time in several years, Halifax County, this year, had to wait until after Labor Day to begin the school year.
As a result, the end of the school year is a week later, on June 14. But, chances are, the end date will be at least a couple of days later.
How and when the lost school days beyond what has been specified in the school calendar will be made up is not now known.
That decision will ultimately be left up to the Halifax County School Board.
Witt said he plans to put a proposal for makeup days in front of the School Board at the School Board's upcoming February meeting.
"We're trying to get 180 days in and trying to finish (school) at some reasonable time in June," Witt said.
"We've got room to add two days at the end of the year to take us to the end of a week. Then, I think we'll have to go back to spring break and take two or three of those days."
There are other possible avenues to explore.
"We could look at other options like "Bank Time," which we will," Witt pointed out.
"But, if you look at it straight up day for day, you're looking at having to take some of spring break."
The school superintendent stated that "we're right on the bubble right now of taking two or three days of spring break."
If time is to be carved out of spring break, it would more than likely come on the front end.
"If we look at spring break, I would think we would look at Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday," Witt said.
"A worst case scenario, I think, would be a four-day weekend or possibly a five-day weekend."
Witt said that while nobody would want to have to take any time away from the specified spring break, it may become a necessity.
"Instruction takes precedent over spring break," Witt pointed out.
"And, with the SOL Tests, it's even more critical. We have to have adequate instruction time prior to the SOL Tests."
Witt noted that everyone knew that starting school after Labor Day puts the school system in a somewhat tenuous situation if the locality experiences a tough winter such as this.
"We knew with starting school after Labor Day if we had any kind of severe winter at all we'd be hard pressed to get it (the state mandated 180 days of instruction) in," said Witt.
"And, that has happened."

All but two supervisors joined school board members at a Turbeville cabin early Thursday morning to explore ways to solve the county's budget woes.
The two-day retreat, scheduled at Supervisor James Edmunds' cabin, allows supervisors to meet informally to discuss the county's needs and to tackle problems as they begin the budget process.
Specifically, supervisors and school board members were looking for funding for an estimated $2 to $3 million budget deficit associated with the composite index formula change.
Some figures suggest the figure may range as high as $3.5 million in overall budget impact.
Morning discussions put several funding options on the table.
Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt put $300,000 to $400,000 in uncommitted lottery funds on the table to be discussed, but warned that it could only be counted on this year.
Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper warned that "some tax increase" might be needed this year.
At 31 cents per $100, Halifax County currently has the lowest real estate tax rate in the state, Sleeper told the two boards.
The administrator estimated that a one-cent rate increase would produce about $212,000.
Supervisors also discussed reassessment options, including moving to more frequent reassessments. The county currently reassesses every six years.
Sleeper also reminded supervisors that in addition to the $2 to $3 million needed for schools, the board must factor in the $1.7 million Continuing Education Center bonds approved in referendum.
The county administrator suggested that the county look at a two-year transition period in dealing with the financial impact.
Locked in the 23 percent slot during South Boston's reversion to town status, the county now faces a jump to 38 percent in the composite index formula.
In addition to schools, the county administrator told supervisors that the composite index "deals with about six other things" in county business. "A lot of grants go back to that," advised Sleeper.
"We did have the advantage of a lower composite index for that period," said Witt of the years following South Boston's reversion.
A combination of factors is delivering the multi-million dollar financial blow, according to county auditors. South Boston's reversion, annexation and the Clover Power plant are among them.
By building its capital improvement fund, Witt told supervisors that the school board was able to finance its new $10 million renovation project, as well as the Career Center in Halifax.
"We don't have a lot of surplus," Witt told supervisors.
The school superintendent urged supervisors not to allow the level of education to be compromised in the county.
At the Thursday session, Sleeper estimated a new county budget in the neighborhood of $58 to $59 million. "But we don't know yet," he emphasized.
The county did have some good news on the first day of the two-day retreat.
Knowing that the composite index change was looming, the county had put some funds aside. There is approximately $6.5 million in the general fund, according to the administrator.
However, Sleeper said that the county should have 10 percent of the budget in operating capital to avoid having to borrow to cover ongoing expenses. Sleeper explained that at times federal or state payments are delayed, but that the county must continue to make its payroll as well as keep other financial commitments.
Supervisors also heard auditor Tom Smith, of Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates, describe Halifax County's tax collection as "truly outstanding." About 96 to 97 percent is usually collected with the percentage jumping to 98 to 99 percent when delinquents taxes are collected.

All but two supervisors joined school board members at a Turbeville cabin early Thursday morning to explore ways to solve the county's budget woes.
The two-day retreat, scheduled at Supervisor James Edmunds' cabin, allows supervisors to meet informally to discuss the county's needs and to tackle problems as they begin the budget process.
Specifically, supervisors and school board members were looking for funding for an estimated $2 to $3 million budget deficit associated with the composite index formula change.
Some figures suggest the figure may range as high as $3.5 million in overall budget impact.
Morning discussions put several funding options on the table.
Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt put $300,000 to $400,000 in uncommitted lottery funds on the table to be discussed, but warned that it could only be counted on this year.
Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper warned that "some tax increase" might be needed this year.
At 31 cents per $100, Halifax County currently has the lowest real estate tax rate in the state, Sleeper told the two boards.
The administrator estimated that a one-cent rate increase would produce about $212,000.
Supervisors also discussed reassessment options, including moving to more frequent reassessments. The county currently reassesses every six years.
Sleeper also reminded supervisors that in addition to the $2 to $3 million needed for schools, the board must factor in the $1.7 million Continuing Education Center bonds approved in referendum.
The county administrator suggested that the county look at a two-year transition period in dealing with the financial impact.
Locked in the 23 percent slot during South Boston's reversion to town status, the county now faces a jump to 38 percent in the composite index formula.
In addition to schools, the county administrator told supervisors that the composite index "deals with about six other things" in county business. "A lot of grants go back to that," advised Sleeper.
"We did have the advantage of a lower composite index for that period," said Witt of the years following South Boston's reversion.
A combination of factors is delivering the multi-million dollar financial blow, according to county auditors. South Boston's reversion, annexation and the Clover Power plant are among them.
By building its capital improvement fund, Witt told supervisors that the school board was able to finance its new $10 million renovation project, as well as the Career Center in Halifax.
"We don't have a lot of surplus," Witt told supervisors.
The school superintendent urged supervisors not to allow the level of education to be compromised in the county.
At the Thursday session, Sleeper estimated a new county budget in the neighborhood of $58 to $59 million. "But we don't know yet," he emphasized.
The county did have some good news on the first day of the two-day retreat.
Knowing that the composite index change was looming, the county had put some funds aside. There is approximately $6.5 million in the general fund, according to the administrator.
However, Sleeper said that the county should have 10 percent of the budget in operating capital to avoid having to borrow to cover ongoing expenses. Sleeper explained that at times federal or state payments are delayed, but that the county must continue to make its payroll as well as keep other financial commitments.
Supervisors also heard auditor Tom Smith, of Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates, describe Halifax County's tax collection as "truly outstanding." About 96 to 97 percent is usually collected with the percentage jumping to 98 to 99 percent when delinquents taxes are collected.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Lawyers for smokers are planning to sue eight states seeking a share of the $206 billion national tobacco settlement.
That settlement was reached in 1998 with 46 states seeking to recover money spent treating smoking-related illnesses of people on Medicaid.
However, many states plan to use the money for unrelated projects, and that has angered some smokers with tobacco-related illnesses.
The new lawsuits are being filed this week in Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Rhode Island, lawyers said. Some were filed Wednesday while others were delayed by winter storms. Similar lawsuits are pending in other states.
''It became crystal clear recently that states weren't going to do the right thing. They're going to spend money on bridges and highways and not give any money to the people on whose back they won the settlement,'' said Antonio Ponvert, an attorney helping coordinate the lawsuits.
Ponvert said the eight states were chosen because lawyers believed technicalities in the settlement and Medicaid laws gave them a better chance for success there.
The lawsuits do not specify damages, and Ponvert said it was impossible to know exactly how much money was involved.
Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty has said the national tobacco settlement was meant for a broader purpose. He has proposed dividing his state's $56 million annual payment between anti-smoking campaigns and general health care programs.
''This was not an attempt by the state at all to get money for individuals,'' Fogarty said. ''This was an attempt to stop the tobacco companies from perpetrating a fraud on people and help people break the cycle of addiction.''
The national litigation alleged that tobacco companies made an addictive product and sold it without properly warning the public.
Lawrence Tyler, 54, a former truck driver from Burlington, Vt., is among the new plaintiffs. He smoked four or five packs a day for 43 years and now has emphysema and can't work.
''The tobacco companies, they made cigarettes addicting to people. Why should the state get the money?'' he said. ''Why shouldn't we get a little something out of it?''
The $206 billion settlement covers 46 states. The four remaining states settled separately for an additional $40 billion.
The National Conference of State Legislatures said only about 8 percent of the first payments made in the settlement with the 46 states have been budgeted for anti-smoking campaigns. The rest is slated for general costs or to cover losses from tax cuts.
The new lawsuits hinge on a provision in Medicaid law which requires states to pursue a party responsible for an injury. The money recovered would first go to a state to cover its expenses, then to the federal government for its contribution to Medicaid costs. Anyone hurt by the responsible party would get the rest.
Last year, Congress waived its interest in any proceeds from the tobacco settlement.
Paul Billings of the American Lung Association in Washington, D.C., said he hadn't seen the lawsuits and couldn't comment directly on them. But he criticized the way states are spending the settlement.
''I think that states are squandering the opportunity the settlement offered to reduce the horrendous toll that tobacco takes ... and reduce the future Medicaid liability,'' Billings said.
Similar lawsuits previously were filed in California, Wisconsin and other states. In the California case, a tentative ruling in state court indicates the lawsuits have some merit, Ponvert said.
In Wisconsin, however, a federal court ruled the lawsuits violated the 11th Amendment, which generally prohibits federal lawsuits seeking monetary damages against a state by citizens of that state or any other state. That ruling has been appealed.

A bus will take recently unemployed textile workers to Richmond on Monday to attend a public hearing on the Textile Workers Relief Act of 2000.
Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett is encouraging unemployed textile workers and other interested citizens to attend the 2 p.m. Monday hearing before the House Labor and Commerce Committee.
Wanda Jeffress, who has been instrumental in helping textile workers in Halifax County, can be reached at (804) 575-9517 to reserve a seat on the bus.
The bus is scheduled to leave Halifax County by 11 a.m. on Monday and to return around 6 p.m.
"It is important to have supporters present to make sure this bill gets out of committee and includes the unemployed Halifax County Tultex Workers," said Bennett, who arranged for the bus.
The public hearing will be held at the State Capitol House, Room C, in the General Assembly Building.

Hope Clay Milam of 2510 Salishan Dr., Halifax died Monday, January 24 at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. She was 31 years old.
Born March 21, 1968 in Campbell County, she was the daughter of Willie Marvin Clay and Betty Moore Clay and was married to Steve Milam.
Mrs. Milam was a member of Second Baptist Church, South Boston.
She is survived by her husband; her parents of South Boston; one daughter, Lauren Hope Milam; and one sister, Robin Clay Boelte of Rustburg.
The funeral will be held at Second Baptist Church today at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased.

Mozelle Boyd Black of 1802 Gygax Ave., South Boston died Monday, January 24 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 90.
She was born in Halifax County October 27, 1909 and was the daughter of the late Grant Boyd and the late Rowena Word Boyd. She was married to Bossie Black and was a member of the Second Buffalo Baptist Church.
Mrs. Black is survived by her husband; three daughters, Gazelle Black of Oxon Hill, Md., Nannie Herndon of Nathalie and Nancy Canada of South Boston; three sons, James Willie Hubbard of Washington, D.C., James Anderson Black of Nathalie and Ernest Black of Lynchburg; 28 grandchildren including the devoted Farrah Canada of South boston; 49 great-grandchildren; nine great-great grandchildren; one sister, Mary Black of Nathalie; one son-in-law; two daughters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and one sister-in-law.
Funeral services will be held today at 2 p.m. at the Second Buffalo Baptist Church with the Rev. William Yancey officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased's daughter, Nancy Canada, 1802 Gygax Ave., South Boston.

Jane Cotten Towler, age 91, of 103 Rosehill Drive, South Boston, died January 26, 2000, at The Woodview.
Mrs. Towler was born in Petersburg on April 22, 1909 the daughter of John Whitaker Cotten and Bessie Meade Riddle and was married to William Albert Towler Jr. She grew up in Richmond, attending Farmville State Teachers College, now Longwood in Farmville, before enrolling in and graduating as a Registered Nurse from St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Richmond. She and her family moved to Halifax in 1948 and the family moved to Roanoke in 1970. She returned to Halifax after the death of her husband. In 1988 she moved to Bedford, Texas, returning to Halifax County to become a resident of The Woodview. She was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Halifax.
Survivors include two sons, William A. Towler III of Arlington, Texas and John C. Towler of Kitty Hawk, N.C.; five grandchildren, William Alexander Towler and Mark C. Towler, both of Edmond, Ok., John C. Towler Jr. of Kill Devil Hills, N.C., Grayson T. Towler of Boulder, Co., and E. Blake Towler of Fort Rucker, Al; and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date for Mrs. Towler.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider St. John's Episcopal Church.

Mamie H. Ingram, age 94, of 1011 Cedar Fork Road, Halifax, died Tuesday, January 25, 2000, at The Woodview.
Mrs. Ingram was born in Halifax County on November 20, 1905, the daughter of Jim Henry Hall and Harriett Laine Hall and was first married to Charlie Y. Hodnett and then to Arthur B. Ingram. She was a member of Union United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one daughter and her husband, Shirley and Earl Midkiff of Halifax; three grandchildren, Linwood Hodnett and his wife, Kristle of Sutherlin, Carolyn and Fred Harris of Littleton, N.C., and Judy Midkiff of Midlothian; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Winston H. Hodnett and one grandson, Edward E. Midkiff.
Graveside services for Mrs. Ingram will be held Saturday, January 29 at Union United Methodist Church Cemetery at 11 a.m. with Revs. Thomas R. Boggs and Bob Watts conducting the service.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. and other times at the home of her daughter, 1011 Cedar Fork Road, Halifax.