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Spanx hosiery founder Sara Blakely was in South Africa this week to surprise 278 young women with the first $305,000 scholarship check from the Sara Blakely Foundation. But Blakely's boyfriend, Lawton Ursrey, and her pal Virgin chairman Richard Branson had an even bigger surprise waiting for the Atlanta businesswoman and philanthropist.
During a sunset champagne picnic atop an ages-old rock at Branson's game reserve, the 27-year-old Atlanta Home Wireless founder popped the question.
Branson helped Ursrey select the engagement spot, reportedly situated on one of the most sacred parts of the reserve.
"It was so magical and I was completely surprised," Blakely told us via e-mail Tuesday. "Lawton is always so romantic, I didn't have a clue he was about to propose until I saw the ring. I'm so happy, I'm beside myself!"
After Blakely, 35, accepted Ursrey's proposal, Branson had a lavish dinner awaiting the couple back at his resort.
Blakely was in Johannesburg to hand-deliver the money for the first scholarships that her brand-new Atlanta-based charitable foundation for women's education and empowerment.
Interestingly, Ursrey was just featured in August's "20 Most Eligible Bachelors and Bachelorettes" issue of Jezebel magazine. In the mag, Ursrey said his ideal mate is "someone who is challenging on all levels, compassionate and has personality, personality, personality!" The magazine featured Blakely in its singles issue in 2002, where she stated, "The most important feature I look for in a mate is his ability to laugh at himself."
Oh, and pssst: Blakely indicated that we should all hit the Club Wedd machine at Target sooner rather than later.
Spilled Blakely: "We don't want a long engagement." OVERSCENE
Ex-"Desperate Housewives" actress Alfre Woodard (left) drinking the Palm's general manager Willy Cellucci under the table at the Buckhead eatery. Woodard was banging back cosmopolitans and calamari while Cellucci tried to keep up with vodka martinis. Sighed Cellucci on Tuesday: "She buried me!" Shoppers can add to shelter's fund
Atlantan Kristy O'Connor and her Grayson sister Kasey Osborne were in "The Oprah Winfrey Show" audience last week when the talk show queen handed out those $1,000 debit cards with the instructions to "Pay it back" to people in need. Starting today, O'Connor and Osborne's initial $2,000 donation to My Sister's House, an Atlanta women's and children's shelter, is snowballing at every Kroger check-out in the metro area.
Upon hearing O'Connor talk about her plans for the donation on Q100 Tuesday, the grocery chain graciously agreed to ask customers if they'd like to "round up" their totals today through Friday. In addition to donating their change, Kroger shoppers have the option to donate whatever amount they wish to the effort.
A film crew will be recording the sisters' progress this week for the obligatory (and no doubt life-affirming) November sweeps follow-up show. If hall of fame calls, drummer Berry's in
After seeing the photos we ran in Tuesday's column, R.E.M. manager Bertis Downs rang Buzz Central with an additional scoop. If the Athens-birthed band does, in fact, transition from 2007 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees to inductees next year, the band's original drummer Bill Berry will be with his former bandmates. (We ran photos of the band's current lineup: Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills; Berry retired from the act in 1997.) Said Downs: "Just like the band's induction this year into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Bill would certainly be a part of the celebration if R.E.M. were to make it into the Rock Hall of Fame." The finalists will be announced in January. ON MY iPOD
Food Network goddess Paula Deen (above) and hubby Michael Groover: "Classic rock like the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, the Beatles and a lot of Johnny Cash," Groover says. "Before she met me, Paula was listening to the Platters." Added Deen: "And poor Johnny Cash had to die before I could appreciate him." Celebrity birthdays
Country singer Bill Anderson is 69. Hustler publisher Larry Flynt is 64. Singer Lyle Lovett is 49. Singer Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers is 44. Drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard is 43. Country singer Big Kenny of Big and Rich is 43. Actress Toni Collette ("The Hours," "Muriel's Wedding") is 34. Actress Jenny McCarthy is 34. "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice is 31.
Contributing: news services.
Copyright 2006 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
