Oprah Winfrey's dad died at the age of 89. The media mogul confirmed in an Instagram post that her father, Vernon Winfrey, died in Nashville, Tennessee, following a battle with cancer on Friday, July 8.
Oprah described his dad's final moments, writing that with family surrounding his bedside, she had the sacred honor of witnessing the man responsible for her life take his last breath. She added that they could feel peace enter the room at his passing.
Details about the funeral plans were not immediately released, according to NPR. Oprah surprised her father earlier this week by throwing him a surprise barbecue in Nashville on the Fourth of July, calling the event "Vernon Winfrey Appreciation Day." The celebration included a barber chair to honor Vernon's long career as a barber and owning his shop in Nashville for nearly 50 years.
Vernon's death comes just days after family surprised him with Fourth of July celebration
He served as a member of Nashville's Metro City Council for 16 years and was also a trustee for the Tennessee State University. Oprah spent her early childhood in her dad's hometown of Kosciusko, Mississippi, and in the city of Milwaukee with her mom, Vernita Lee, who died in 2018. However, she also lived with her dad Vernon in Nashville between the ages of 7 and 9 and during her teen years.
Oprah told the Washington Post in 1986 that if she had not been sent to her father when she was 14, she would have gone in another direction. She added that she could have made a good criminal and that she would have used these same instincts differently.
Oprah shared the sad news alongside a video of gospel singer Wintley Phipps saluting her dad with a song, which took place at the family's recent Fourth of July celebration. According to Oprah Daily, she brought balloons, a giant sign, flowers, and some of his favorite people to that surprise bash. That included Vernon's older sister, Christine, who he greeted with a tearful embrace.
Oprah pays tribute to her dad
Nashville Mayor John Cooper offered his deepest condolences to the family of Vernon Winfrey on the social media platform Twitter, writing that he served on Metro Council for 16 years and dedicated his life to mentoring young men in the community, entrepreneurship, and barbering.
On Father's Day, Oprah reflected on social media about some of the life lessons Vernon taught her. She said that if it were not for her father, she doubts anybody in the world would know her name. Oprah added that she knows firsthand how the trajectory of life can change by the positive influence of a good father.
Vernon's influence resulted in Oprah becoming one of the greatest media personalities in the world. She parlayed a Chicago television talk show into a media empire that expanded into magazines, cable TV, satellite radio, and movie production, making her one of the world's wealthiest women, according to Reuters.
