Last week's blizzard was both a blessing and a curse to Halifax County's businesses and industries.
Over a foot of snow fell in less than 24 hours, burying major thoroughfares and forcing officials to declare a state of emergency throughout the county and Town of South Boston for all of Tuesday.
Playing Catch-Up
Throughout the county, industries that never close shut down their lines and told employees to stay home on Tuesday, costing the companies untold dollars in delays and lost production.
JPS Apparel is still trying to make up for lost time after shutting down both daytime and nighttime production at the South Boston plant on Tuesday.
"We reopened on Wednesday and our employees are all able to get to work now. But we operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and anytime you lose production, it's hard to make it up," said personnel manager Larry Harris.
Another textile plant, Burlington Industries in South Boston, also shut down for 24 hours when the snow hit last week.
However, the day-long delay is expected to have little impact on the plant, according to manager Lott Rogers.
"We are pretty much up with our orders, and we plan to run next Saturday to make up for any lost time," he said.
Operations at the Burlington plant in Clarksville were affected a little more strongly, as a large percentage of its employees live in North Carolina, where roads are still closed.
Presto Products Company on Highway 58 also shut down on Tuesday, something that has only happened one time before in the past 20 years, according to plant manager Wayne Conner.
"In the 20 years we've been here, we've only had to shut down once before," Conner said. "We left it up to the employees whether they were able or wanted to come in with the intention of running a line if we had enough people show up. We were shut down completely from noon on Tuesday to noon the following day."
But the harsh winter weather actually seems to be helping Presto, which operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day producing plastic products.
"Our orders lately are overwhelming, and this (snow) just backed us up. But it's a good problem to have. We serve a lot of large grocery chains, and lately, business is great. In fact, we are in the process of hiring 24 people and we're running everything we've got," Conner said. "On the other hand, we can't make up for the lost time, and a lot of our trucks couldn't get in, and you can't put a price on that."
O'Sullivan Industries worked its first shift the day of the storm, but told employees to come in only if they felt safe driving. Those who chose to remain at home were not penalized for missing work, said HR manager Steve Mand.
Second and third shift workers were told not to come in at all on Tuesday.
"When the snow continued to fall, we stopped operations as it would not be safe to travel with the icy conditions," Mand said.
The company, which produces ready-to-assemble furniture, sent out two trucks that were already at the plant on Tuesday, but did not receive any shipments that day.
"Most everyone got here by Wednesday, however," Mand said.
Mand said the company was trying to make up for losing the two shifts, plus essentially three-quarters of another, but working a full day on Saturday.
"In our case, it really just delayed things. In the long run, we're not going to lose money on the deal," Mand said.
Local Businesses Suffering
The recent series of storms has really thrown a wrench in the works at Vulcan Material Company.
For the gravel production company, Tuesday, when the weather made it necessary to close for the day, was really no worse than any other day recently, as the snow has hampered production and sales and delivery.
"Other than not being able to do anything the last three weeks, things are okay," joked Bobby Wilborn. "We can't get the trucks out, and for two days we didn't sell anything. This snow lately has really brought us to a stand-still. We haven't done anything that amounts to anything."
In South Boston, local business owners and their employees peer through frosted windows at the empty downtown streets, as commerce has slowed to a mere trickle due to terrible road conditions.
While the downtown roads have been cleared, the snow now clogs roadside parking areas in front of the stores, merchants said.
"We've had about two people in on average the last three days," said Sarah Hughes at Electric Service Company Inc. "Today has been a little better, but parking has been very difficult, especially in front of the store where they pushed the snow off the road."
Nor do shoppers appear willing to battle the weather to purchase clothing in town.
"Sales have dropped dramatically," said Wayne Fuller of W.A. Fuller Limited.
"We've had four snow events in the last two weeks, and we have been open probably half of the days we really should be open. The volume of people coming through the store has dropped 65 or 70 percent, and that's absolutely awful," Fuller continued.
He expects that business will pick back up once the weather breaks, however.
"More than likely, the business will recover as soon as the snow stops and the roads improve. Parking right now is very bad," he said.
While he understands the town's public works employees had all they could handle dealing with the deluge of snow, Fuller feels the town made a mistake when it pushed the snow off the roads and into the parking area in front of the stores.
"They should have had a pickup with a front-loader to pick the snow up. It's going to take this snow a month to melt, but they did say they'd be here (today) or Tuesday to get the snow away from the parking areas so people can get to us. But it really is tough," Fuller stated from his Main Street business.
"I'm 56 years old, and the last snow I remember of this size happened when I was about five," he continued. "This number of snows I can't remember, and I never want to see it again."
But while residents are not busy purchasing furniture or fine clothing, they are still buying boots, said an up-beat David McCollum from his shoe store just down the road.
"We haven't had a snow like this in four years," he observed after helping a customer select a pair of boots on Friday afternoon. "The first part of the snow was tough because people couldn't get out. Now we're selling snow boots and more. In fact, we called three different vendors this morning and had snow boots shipped in."
While McCollum-Ferrell Shoe Store was closed with all the others in South Boston when the storm hit last Tuesday, McCollum was philosophical.
"The great thing about it was that, like the blue law, everyone was equal. No one did any business. People stayed at home with their families, played in the snow with their children, and no one worried about someone else doing business," he said.
Other Businesses Busy
Halifax and South Boston businesses that were open on Tuesday were forced to close their doors at noon, as local police worked to clear the roads of non-essential traffic.
Dedicated Wal-Mart shoppers who braved the storm that blustery morning left reluctantly, said assistant store manager Wayne Smith.
"We had shoppers here on Tuesday just doing regular shopping, like buying jewelry, until the police told us we had to close because they were closing all of the streets," said Smith.
But even with the employees' ranks greatly depleted due to travel problems, the store reopened the following morning at 7 a.m. and has been going strong ever since.
"We had some problems with deliveries, but we're getting all the trucks in now, and we're in good shape. There is no shortage of bread, milk or any other items," he said.
The shoppers have also returned to Belk Department Store, which was closed for only a day.
Many businesses actually view the winter weather as a blessing.
Bo Thomason made a point of keeping Bo's Hydraulics open when the storm arrived.
"Let it snow," he said.
"We stayed open 24 hours a day on those snowy days. We can get calls at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., and we will deliver or provide the necessary emergency parts to emergency crews working for the county, highway department or power companies," Thomason said. "We heard other people had to close because of the state of emergency, but we fall under a different category since we service emergency equipment.
"If we're here, or they call us, we'll come out at any time day or night. We're going to be here to serve the emergency crews seven days a week, 24 hours of the day.
Not only does this Riverdale business provide a wide variety of essential parts, hydraulic and otherwise, it also rents all types of heavy equipment. And every piece of machinery that can move snow is out.
"We've got eight Bobcats and nine backhoes - our biggest items for snow removal - and all of those are lined up and spoken for," Thomason.
Aside from some delivery problems during the storm, local grocery stores are delighted with the recent weather, especially as shoppers continue to pour through the doors in a frenzy to stock up before the next storm.
"This is good for business. We are wide open here," said Riverdale Food Lion manager Wayne Smith.
According to Smith, while deliveries did not arrive on Tuesday, the trucks rolled in by Wednesday and kept the shelves stocked.
Heating oil companies are so busy that representatives didn't have time to talk to reporters, especially when the temperatures plummeted into the single digits Thursday nights.
The frigid temperatures also increased the work load for local plumbing businesses.
"We didn't have much to do with the snow removal, but we've been real busy with frozen pipes," said Jacquelyn McAbee of Satterfield Plumbing and Backhoe Service on Friday.

Yet another winter weather system hit Southside Virginia yesterday coating everything with a glaze of ice while adding to the winter misery brought on by snowfalls that began two weeks ago.
A mix of rain and sleet began during the early morning hours and temperatures hovered below freezing throughout the day and into last night.
Ice-covered roadways resulted in a number of vehicles sliding into ditches according to reports published over the police radio.
Virginia Department of Transportation crews were busy treating the primary roads in Halifax County in an effort to combat the icy glaze.
"Right now, all the primaries are glazed with sleet and ice. We are continuing to apply chemicals," said Zach Weddle, assistant resident engineer for VDOT, adding that nothing would be done to the secondary routes until the primaries were sufficiently cleared of ice.
"We don't have any trees down yet, but I suspect we will if the temperature stay below freezing, and it looks like this system is going to continue throughout the day," Weddle said.
By 1:25 p.m., VDOT received its first report. Reports over the police scanner indicated that a tree had fallen and was completely blocking a road in Cluster Springs.
Virginia Power, while it had received no reports of local power outages by 1 p.m., was ready for the worst.
"We have over 1,000 people ready to work," said Virginia Power spokesperson Patty Campbell. "We have crews at the shop ready to roll, and extra crews on standby.
"But so far, we're only beginning to see some isolated stuff in central Virginia."
In South Boston, a watermain broke on North Main Street, tying up all available personnel and interrupting service to hundreds of customers
Those who weren't battling with the water main and the fast-growing puddle of water were working to sand down the main roads before conditions worsened.
Halifax County Public Schools, closed because of weather conditions since January 17, were not expected to run today. No announcement by school officials was available at press time yesterday afternoon.

Weather permitting the South Boston Current Issues and Finance committee will meet tonight to consider a number of requests.
Washington County has requested that the Town of South Boston support their desire to have Virginia Enterprise Zones guidelines amended to allow jurisdictions applying jointly to be permitted to each have a non-contiguous zone.
According to Town Manager Ted Daniel, Community Development Coordinator Tamyra Vest has discussed the issue with the staff of Abingdon, the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) personnel, and Housing and Community Development officials, who administer the program.
She recommends council support the change.
Finance Committee members will be considering a request from the Halifax Education Foundation (HEF) to waive 1999 and subsequent year's real estate taxes.
Last year, the town waived HEF's 1998 taxes in the amount of $1,088.32.
The foundation's 1999 real estate taxes are $928.27.
Other issues included on the agenda for Monday night's meeting are as follows:
· The Dixie Baseball League has requested that the town pay for the electricity to operate the lights at the C.H. Friend Athletic Field.
· South Boston Financial Director S.V. Saunders will discuss a request by the town to Halifax County that it waive county taxes on delinquent properties, if following the sale of such properties the town buys the property.
· Finance Committee members will discuss the proposed 2000-2001 budget preparation schedule.
· Current Issues Committee members will discuss a proposed ordinance to close two alleyways on the Halifax Education Foundation campus south of Factory and Bruce streets, and deeding abandoned property to adjacent property owners.
· There will soon be an opening on the South Boston Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), as Ronnie Crabtree's term expires on Feb. 29.
Having served two full five-year terms, Crabtree is ineligible for reappointment.
Other South Boston BZA members are Billy Clarke, Bob Meeks, Levi Hamilton and Kim White.

Halifax County will receive nearly $94,000 this year to fight gun-related crimes, thanks to a state grant through the Department of Criminal Justice Services.
Earlier this month, Halifax County officials learned that the county would receive $93,204 in for Project Exile funding by ranking among the top 20 localities for number of circuit court convictions for Project Exile-eligible offenses, according to Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney James Vann.
Halifax County, which will receive $83,844 in general funds and $9,320 in local cash match, tied with Alexandria for last place, based on data based on pre-sentence investigation reports for 1997.
Vann, who will serve as the Project Exile prosecutor, said this money will be used to prosecute gun-related crimes, pay for overtime, and fund a public-awareness campaign.
"This money will be used to fund a prosecutor who will devote most of his time to prosecuting gun cases, specifically those involving gun-use or possession by felons, guns on school grounds with the intent to use, or guns used in drug crimes," Vann explained.
Virginia's new "Exile" law went into effect on July 1, 1999, and was designed to reduce gun-related crime by enforcing stricter sentencing.
"To begin the process, we need to get the word out. There will be public service announcements and billboards that essentially say that when you get caught committing a crime, you are going to do some time," Vann said. "Convicted criminals will be looking at two years for non-violent crimes and five years on guns or drugs."
Crimes that fall under Exile prosecution include felony offenses, including completed and attempted murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, forcible sodomy, inanimate or animate sexual penetration, robbery, car-jacking, burglary, malicious wounding, malicious bodily injury to a law enforcement officer, aggravated malicious wounding, and malicious wounding by a mob, according to Virginia Project Exile Coordinator, Michael Costigan.
Narcotics offenses will also be prosecuted under Project Exile, including felony sale, disposition, manufacture, and possession of Schedule I/II narcotics and marijuana. Weapons offenses include possession, use or attempt to use any pistol, shotgun, rifle or other firearm.
According to Vann, Richmond implemented this program and in six months has seen a drastic decrease in crime.
"It's really a success story in Richmond. They've seen a dramatic decrease in crime because everyone knows that when they get caught, they're going away," Vann continued. "The Richmond homicide rate is dropping, and people are less likely to carry guns while committing these offenses, especially drug offenses."

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Smithfield Foods Inc., the world's largest hog producer and processor, said it has completed its acquisition of No. 2 producer Murphy Family Farms of Rose Hill, N.C.
The purchase involves 11.1 million shares of Smithfield Foods stock, worth $253 million, plus the assumption of about $203 million in Murphy Farms debt and other liabilities, Smithfield Foods said Friday.
The state of Iowa had attempted to stop the merger.
A judge issued a temporary injunction late Monday to block the sale of Murphy Family Farms' assets in Iowa to Smithfield Foods, contending it would violate a state law barring meat processors from owning, controlling or operating a feedlot in Iowa. The state's attorney general requested that the injunction be made permanent.
Smithfield Foods spokesman Michael B. Miller said the company disagreed with the Iowa attorney general's opinion. But rather than fight a legal battle and hold up the Smithfield deal, Murphy Family Farms sold its Iowa assets, a contract farming operation, to a former manager of the company, Miller said.
''Farmers are going out of business in Iowa,'' Miller said. ''We feel this interpretation of the law is not going to help farmers stay in business.''
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller's office was looking into the deal. Spokesman Bob Brammer said Smithfield Foods agreed to give the office documents concerning the acquisition by Monday morning, Brammer said.
''We will review the documents and the acquisition to determine if they comply with Iowa law and with the court's injunction barring Smithfield Foods from acquiring Murphy Farms' pork production assets in Iowa,'' Brammer said.
Murphy Family Farms will join Smithfield Foods' other domestic hog production subsidiaries, Brown's of Carolina Inc. and Carroll's Foods Inc. Together, the three operations will produce about 12 million hogs a year.
Murphy Family Farms will operate as a separate unit of Smithfield Foods under its present management team, which will remain substantially intact.
''We have worked very closely with Murphy's for many years and are very comfortable with their management team,'' said Joseph W. Luter III, chairman and chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods. The company is based in Smithfield, about 30 miles northwest of Norfolk in southeastern Virginia.
Murphy Family Farms and Smithfield Foods had announced the merger on Sept. 2, 1999, a development brought on by rock-bottom producer pork prices.
''We look forward to being a part of Smithfield Foods Inc.,'' Murphy Family Farms spokeswoman Lois Britt said. She said the company had no other comment beyond the Smithfield Foods statement.
The deal solidifies Smithfield Food's position as the world's leading hog producer, said analyst Kenneth S. Gassman of Davenport & Co. in Richmond.
''Smithfield is an industry consolidator,'' Gassman said. ''This will help bring Smithfield's overall costs down and make them a more efficient producer.''
Smithfield Foods' products include fresh pork and processed meats sold under names such as Smithfield Lean Generation, John Morrell, Lykes, Gwaltney, Patrick Cudahy and Schneiders.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Tired of getting another annoying phone call from someone peddling aluminum siding or a credit card just as you sit down to dinner?
Ever cut short a telemarketer's pitch, hang up and mutter under your breath, ''There oughta be a law ...?''
Well, here's your chance to talk to the folks who can do something about it.
The House Corporations, Insurance and Banking Committee will conduct a public hearing Tuesday on three bills that would create a state registry of people who don't want to get telemarketing calls. Companies that call people on the registry would be guilty of violating the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.
Frustration over the seemingly incessant sales calls knows no political bounds. Nearly identical bills are being sponsored by Republican Del. Robert Marshall of Prince William County, one of the assembly's most conservative members, and Democratic Del. George Grayson of James City County, who is among the most liberal lawmakers.
''People are just really fed up,'' Grayson said.
Grayson has proposed the bill several times in the past but has not been able to overcome opponents' claims that it would give out-of-state telemarketers an advantage over Virginia companies.
Another legislative committee will conduct a public hearing Monday on legislation to assist unemployed people in the Martinsville area, which has been hit hard by textile factory closings. Unemployment is 19.6 percent in Martinsville, 11.6 percent in Henry County.
Del. Ward Armstrong, D-Martinsville, said at least five busloads of people from the area are expected to attend the House Labor and Commerce Committee hearing.
''I've lived in my district all my life, and I've never seen anything approaching this in terms of crisis,'' said Armstrong, 43.
Armstrong is the sponsor of the Textile Workers Relief Act of 2000, which would make jobless people in high-unemployment areas eligible for Medicaid. It also would boost the maximum unemployment benefit in those areas from $232 a week to $332, a 43 percent increase.

A new biotechnology business partnership that will create life-saving drugs and other commercial products from tobacco plants was announced Saturday by Governor Jim Gilmore.
"This partnership brings together key leaders in Virginia's traditional tobacco industry with one of Virginia's most innovative emerging biotechnology companies," Governor Gilmore said.
"Combining these interests marks an advance in the health industry, as there is great potential for the development of lifesaving and therapeutic medicines to be created from tobacco plants, resulting in lower costs to consumers. The partnership is another prime example of the outstanding entrepreneurial leadership that exists in Virginia today."
The partnership between ToBio LLC, a farmer-owned tobacco production business, and CropTech Corporation, a Virginia biotechnology company, will combine the knowledge, experience and high quality output of ToBio's tobacco growers with CropTech's innovative biotechnology.
The result will be a unique approach for producing, manufacturing, and marketing non-smoking products from tobacco. Because of the genetic adaptability of tobacco, it is the best plant resource for the building-block proteins used in pharmaceuticals.
"This partnership is a tremendous boon to Virginia localities economically dependent on tobacco," said Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Barry E. DuVal.
"This alternative use for tobacco can provide critical economic support to areas of Virginia seeking to expand their economic base."
CropTech Corporation, part of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, is a world leader in the new field of plant biotechnology.
CropTech's patented process for protein production in transgenic tobacco is a major advance in plant-based manufacturing technology with the potential to produce many types of biopharmaceuticals and other products on a cost-effective basis.
Crop Tech estimates that its technology will also permit large quantities of these products to be produced and delivered quickly to customers and will position the company to manufacture a significant share of the $20 billion worldwide market for biopharmaceuticals.
With more than 800 products in development, many experts estimate that tobacco-produced biopharma-ceuticals may ultimately require hundreds of thousands of acres to satisfy worldwide markets.
ToBio LLC is a new business entity created by tobacco farmers to develop the methodology for production of transgenic tobacco in partnership with CropTech and to manage the commercial production and delivery of this tobacco by growers.
This cooperative business is being organized as a tobacco producer owned corporation, with management assistance provided through the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation's Commodity/Marketing Services Department.
In addition to being aided by Virginia Tech and the Center for Innovative Technology, Crop Tech's research and development programs have received grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and the Advanced Technology Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services facilitated the partnership through its Office of Agribusiness Development.
"Biotechnology and transgenic tobacco offer a much needed opportunity for our tobacco farmers," said Department of Agriculture Commissioner J. Carlton Courter, III. "And this new venture may help provide much needed security for 21st century agriculture in Southside and Southwest Virginia."
More information on the CropTech/ToBio project may be obtained by contacting Dr. David N. Radin, President of CropTech, at 540/951-2888, ext. 3008; Chris Cook, Virginia Farm Bureau, 804/291-1234; or Agribusiness Development, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 804/786-3538. Or contact Jerry Jenkins of Tobio, 804/676-2863, Donnie Moore of Tobio, 804/432 3746, or Don Wright of Tobio, 540/429- 5317.

Eleonore Monhart Ligon, age 77, of 1192 Scottsburg Road, died January 27, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Ligon was born in Germany on June 12, 1922. She was married to Oscar M. Ligon and was a member of Scottsburg United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one son, Don Lee Ligon of Halifax County; one brother, Josef Monhart and wife Lottie of Germany; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Ligon were held January 29 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ann Davidson conducting the service. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery at Scottsburg.

James H. Holden, age 84, of 725 Easley Street, South Boston, died January 21, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Holden was born in Durham, N.C. on May 5, 1915, the son of Patilda Holden and Connie Holden and was married to Leathe Adams Holden.
Survivors include his wife, one sister, Dorothy Covington of Durham; two devoted cousins, Gladys Faulkner and Walter Womack, both of South Boston; and a devoted friend, Danny Johnson.
Memorial services for Mr. Holden were held January 29 at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home in South Boston with Elder Bernard Wilkins officiating.

Nancy Louise Patterson, age 89, of 105 Wren Street, South Boston, died January 27, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Ms. Patterson was born June 24, 1910 in South Boston the daughter of Daniel Patterson and Nannie Beall Patterson. She was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church. Miss Patterson graduated from Averett College, worked for the Federation of Post Office Clerks in Washington, D.C. and also worked for the Department of atomic Energy in Brunswick, N.J. and Golden, Co. She was secretary to the Administrator at Halifax County Hospital and later retired as Head of Medical Records.
The funeral was held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel January 29 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Doug Martin officiating. Burial was in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Survivors of Ms. Patterson include one sister, Geneva Patterson of Tucson, Az; one niece, Nancey Lupo and one nephew, Bob Godfary, both of Tucson.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Main Street United Methodist Church.

Arthur Samuel Phillips Sr., age 76, of 1084 East Oak Hill Drive, Halifax, died January 27, 2000, at V.A. Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
Mr. Phillips was born February 16, 1921, in Halifax County the son of William Henry Phillips and Jenny Thomas Phillips and was married to Bertha Elliott Phillips. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was retired owner/operator of Flying A Service Station.
The funeral was held January 29 at 11 a.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with President Robert Mayo and Brother Mac Bugg officiating. Burial was in Hitesburg Baptist Church Cemetery, Virgilina.
Survivors of Mr. Phillips include his wife; one daughter, Brenda P. Hunter of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two sons, Arthur S. Phillips Jr. of Provo, Utah and William Henry "W.H." Phillips of Halifax; 23 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by six brother, one sister and two grandchildren.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider your favorite charity.

Florence Weatherford Slayton, age 51, of 2086 Sandy Beach Road, South Boston, died January 30, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Slayton was born September 22, 1948, in South Boston the daughter of James Weatherford and Lelia Barksdale Weatherford and was married to Lynwood Wayne Slayton. She was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church.
Funeral services will be held at Brooks Funeral Chapel February 1 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Herman Absher officiating. Burial will take place in the Slayton Family Cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Slayton include her husband; her parents of South Boston; mother-in-law, Nadine Slayton of Vernon Hill; three daughters, Crystal Slayton, Cynthia White and Candace Slayton, all of South Boston; two sisters, Gracie Poole of Cluster Springs and Ruby Rickman of South Boston; two brothers, Donald Weatherford of South Boston and Timothy Weatherford of Clarksville; and two grandchildren, B.W. and Tyler.

The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home tonight from 7:00 until 8:30 and other times at the home.

Alice Lovelace Bishop, age 96, of Halifax, died January 29, 2000, at Twin Oaks Nursing Home.
Mrs. Bishop was the daughter of Dr. William S. Lovelace and Bessie Gates Lovelace and was married to William Pleasants Bishop.
Survivors include one son, William L. Bishop of Winston-Salem, N.C.; two grandchildren, William L. Bishop Jr. of Greensboro, N.C. and Scott B. Bishop of Charleston, S.C.; two great-grandchildren, Anna Bishop and Bethany Bishop, both of Greensboro.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time and will be announced later by Powell Funeral Home.