WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — When one of the most famous women in the world visits your store, it’s a big deal.

Oprah Winfrey has been spotted in several Winston-Salem stores and restaurants in the past week as she’s in town helping plan Dr. Maya Angelou’s memorial service set for Saturday.

You can watch the memorial service on FOX8 and MyFOX8.com/live at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

“It draws an amazing amount of attention, especially in a small town like Winston-Salem,” said Buddy Milner, part owner of Milner’s Restaurant on Stratford Road. Winfrey, along with her friend Gayle King surprised the restaurant staff when they stepped in just after 8 p.m. Thursday night for dinner. “They were so generous and so humble. It was really like having a friend stop by.”

The visit created a lot of attention for the restaurant on social media that money can’t buy. “We are very blessed,” said John Milner. “We’ve gotten a lot of publicity from it but she’s also here for a funeral and it’s important to recognize that.”

Friday Winfrey and King were spotted shopping in Belk at Hanes Mall and White House Black Market at Thruway Shopping Center.

“I got to see her leave Belk,” said Travis Peacock, the manager of Tailgators, a sports apparel store. “I was hoping she would come visit me in the store but not so lucky.”

Customers and employees of stores at Thruway Shopping Center say it was a once in a lifetime experience.

“She was walking back to her car and she looked into the store,” said Ben Carson of Omega Sports. “Everyone was lined up to look and see her and she waved at us and smiled.”

https://twitter.com/SCoppley/status/474747154469101568/