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Speaking before an audience of thousands at the Democratic National Convention in Denver may qualify Gloria Jean Craven as a star to many, but she refuses to accept the treatment that goes along with it.

Craven was offered help with her speech, but she refused. The 56-year-old displaced Pillowtex worker prefers to speak directly from her heart, not a sheet of paper.

"I will say it like I said it in Raleigh or I won't say it at all," said Craven, speaking about the speech she gave during Barack Obama's visit to Raleigh last week.

Craven believes she must have impressed Obama's camp during that appearance. They called on her again Saturday, asking if she wanted to take her message national.

Craven thought she might be asked to appear in an ad for Obama. That would be easy enough, she thought. She had done that previously for U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan and U.S. Rep. Brad Miller.

Instead, she will take center stage before the nation at 10:01 p.m. today. And she's got a lot to tell the world in just 5 to 10 minutes.

Craven and her husband, Jacob, lost their jobs when Pillowtex closed in 2003. Craven returned to school and in 2006 received a degree in respiratory therapy from Rockingham Community College, only to have diabetes and a degenerative joint condition keep her from returning to work.

Though Craven was able to further her education, she said it's not so simple for others. What about those who went to work at 12 or 13 and can barely read and write, much less comprehend college-level work?

"My husband was one of them," Craven said, adding that he has been learning to read since losing his job.

Craven doesn't consider herself a hardship case and said she doesn't expect handouts. But she said she represents people across America who share her situation. And she backs Obama because she believes he represents change.

"I'm not alone in this situation. We can't keep going the way we're going," Craven said.

Susan Lagana, North Carolina communications director for Obama's campaign, said Craven came to the campaign's attention through volunteers in the area.

"Her story really does in many ways reflect the problem a lot of North Carolinians have faced over the last eight years," Lagana said Monday.

After arriving at the Denver airport Monday evening, Craven said, "I'm trying to get my nerves calmed down now that I'm here."

She'd better because there will be a lot of eyes on her tonight.

One likely watcher will be Craven's daughter, Mandy Silvers, and Silvers' 11-year-old son Zane, who wanted to accompany grandma to Denver but had school Monday.

Royce Richardson, chairman of the Rockingham County Democratic Party, also plans to tune in.

Other than politicians and their wives, Richardson asked, how many people have the chance to address the country in that manner?

"You could probably count them on your hands," he said.

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 627-4881, Ext. 126, or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com