
DATE: Thursday, September 25, 1997          TAG: 9709240138

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   75 lines

`HARVESTING OF GIFTS' THEME FOR PEANUT FEST PRAYER DINNER

What makes women insecure?

Men.

``Insecurity is a major problem with women. The male figure makes them insecure,'' said Paige Harrell. ``It's sad how a man can put a woman down, often because of his own insecurities.''

Harrell, a motivational/inspirational speaker, will be the guest speaker Wednesday, at the Peanut Fest Prayer Dinner sponsored by the Nansemond River Pilot Club. The event will be held at Lakeland High School.

The Whaleyville native and graduate of Forest Glen High School (Class of '56) is happy to be home if only for the brief appearance.

Harrell's theme is ``Harvesting of Gifts.''

Her gift, she said, is helping women build self-esteem, which she often does via fashion shows.

``I've been doing them for 13 years, and I always jump in with motivation, inspiration and building self-esteem,'' said Harrell, who does benefits for churches and civic organizations, and runs Paige's, a shop in Kitty Hawk, N.C., that specializes in ladies apparel and accessories.

``Some of my shows emphasize how to dress professionally,'' she said. ``You should look and feel good about yourself, no matter what your size.''

That brings her to another point of interest.

``Larger women feel that there are no clothes that will make them look good, so they feel insecure about themselves and the way they look,'' Harrell said. ``I prove that's untrue, because I look good.''

She is working at looking even better.

``I've gone down four sizes since January. I was 24, now I'm 16,'' Harrell said, crediting the drop to a low-fat diet and exercise. ``I swim and play tennis every morning and take a lot of vitamins. I feel so much better - and I've inspired a lot of women to lose weight.''

The self-help inspiration came during a concert in Orlando, where she said she thought she was having a mild heart attack. ``That was my turning point.''

There have been other health problems in past years: pneumonia, gall bladder surgeryand neck surgery.

If her problems put her in a blue funk, there is no sign of it now.

Harrell is upbeat, cheerful and loaded with confidence. As befits her occupation, she dresses fashionably - and there is lots of jewelry.

``If somebody comes in my store, I can size 'em up,'' she said. ``I know what they need to wear - what would look best.''

Harrell feels she is able to care for their material and emotional needs. ``I have a gift - detecting. I can detect personal needs - I can see if a woman has been emotionally battered or, if she's happy.''

The gift she shares requires no wrapping, no ribbons - just understanding and a desire to help.

``My goal,'' Harrell reiterated, ``is to help women build self-esteem, and to make them look beautiful.''

She has been married to Ed Harrell 26 years.

He is a coastal management field representative for the Division of Coastal Management for the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources.

The couple has two sons. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER

Whaleyville native Paige Harrell is the featured speaker at the Oct.

9 prayer dinner.

Graphic

ABOUT THE EVENT

WHAT: Peanut Fest Prayer Dinner sponsored by the Nansemond River

Pilot Club. The speaker is Paige Harrell. Music by 3 For Him,

Southern Gospel group,

WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9

WHERE: Lakeland High School

TICKETS: $15. Proceeds used by the Pilot Club for to support

research in the areas of brain-related injuries and projects