The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1962-03-06
BY BETTY Upton

KEysvILLE. March s-Mrs.
] H. ingram. who will be 81
in June. is already looking for
ward to celebrating her one hun-
dredth birthday in be- own
home in Keysville.
Il Believe I am kept here for
a purpose. for all Of us are
created for a purpose. Mrs. In
gram says. proclaiming the deep
faith that has been the guiding
light CT her long life. mo one
can see the flowers bud each
spring and fail to believe in a
higher power"
Having been a housewife for
many years, Mrs. Ingram still
enjoys working in her kitchen.
where she cooks, bakes, and
cars. Last summer she go. a
kick cut of canning beets..
During the warm weather she
INDUCED in another hobby, trav-
cling. While visiting her. soh.
Henry. at Virginia Beach. She
afforded a musical and partici-
pated in a television interview
sponsored by Warren Hull. She
was also guest Of honor al a
luncheon given by. a cousin at
the Princess Anne County Club.
Loves To Fly
Mrs. Ingram also flies occa-
sionally with her grandson. Sam
Bro0kes. as pilot. They have
gone as far as Greensboro. N. C.
During World War. II. when
Sam learned to fly in the Air
Force. l was his first pas
serger," she relates proudly.
Regularly. she makes car trips
to Richmond. with another son,
Will. of Moldavia Charlotte
Court House. to visit her eye
srecialist.
Il lot the sight of one eye in
1902. when my youngest son. Bob
(now a dentist in Atlanta, Ca:
was a baby
Because of cataracts her doc
tor now has limited her reading
to ten minutes at a time, but al
lows her to look at television if
she doesn't look at the COM
mercials Her hearing and ether
faculties are holding up even bet
ter.
''Miss Matte"
Affectionately X own as Miss
Matte by her friends of several
different generations, Mrs. In
gram was born In KeySville. She
lived in Charlotte county all her
life with the exception of sew
eral years during her childhood.
when her family moved to Rich
mond. Her father. william Plid-
dv. was a soldier in the Civil
War. serving under Col. Charles
Bruce for four years.
With her husband. John H. In
gram and year-old daughter.
BERTHE, she moved to Charlotte
Court House in 1873. Their four
sons. Will. Henry. Ray. who
makes his home near Louisville.
KY ard Bob were born there
she also has six, living grand
children, ten great grandchil-
dren. and three great, great
grandchildren. Her four sons
were reunited with her here last
June.
Ingram was always in the
merchatile business. although he
never encouraged his sons to fol-
low his profession. Mr.. and Mrs,
Ingram preferred that they
choose their own. after finishing
their college education.
People called his store the
Miller and Rhoads of Charlotte
Court House." Mrs. Ingram re-
nrinisced with a twinkle in
her eye, for she has never lost
her keen sense of humor.
Presbyterian
A leading member of the Viii
lage Presbyterian Churc
Charlotte Court House. Mrs. In
gram taught all her children to
read the Bible daily. She led
prayer groups and Biblical stu
dies in the Women's Auxiliary.
In 1920, after she lost her hus-
band. Mrs. Ingram moved her
family to Keysville. where she
brought the Fitzgerald home Oh
the corner of King Street. She
still lives here with a companion,
Mrs. Lucille Gaulding. The Fitz-
geralds boarded with Mrs. In