Who was Oprah Winfrey’s dad, Vernon Winfrey? The former barber, who passed away peacefully at 89, was the billionaire media mogul’s inspiration – and didn’t care if he was her biological dad or not
- Oprah lost her 89-year-old father to cancer and, after throwing him an ‘appreciation celebration’ on the Fourth of July, spent his last moments with him, calling it a ‘sacred honour’ on Instagram
- Her mum, Vernita Lee, had her as a teen and asked Vernon to send money – the former army soldier and barber responded by raising Oprah as his own from age 14
Oprah Winfrey, 68, recently mourned the loss of her father, Vernon Winfrey, who passed away on July 8. He was 89 years old and battling cancer.
The media titan went back to her hometown in Nashville to spend time with him. She threw him a special surprise party on the Fourth of July and called it the “Vernon Winfrey Appreciation Celebration” as seen on the star’s Instagram. His doting daughter surprised him with flowers, balloons, a giant sign and a visit from his older sister, Christine, per the Oprah Daily website.
“Yesterday with family surrounding his bedside I had the sacred honour of witnessing the man responsible for my life, take his last breath,” Oprah wrote in a touching Instagram statement. “We could feel peace enter the room at his passing. That peace still abides. All is well. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.”
He was a barber and a councilman
Vernon Winfrey was born in Mississippi in 1933 and moved to Nashville after serving the army during the Korean war. He was married to Barbara Winfrey from 2000–2013.
He made a name for himself as an established barber in his Nashville community, owning a barber shop in East Nashville for more than 50 years – Winfrey Barber & Beauty Shop. He set up shop in 1964 after working some odd jobs as a pot washer and a janitor at Vanderbilt University.
In 2012, Oprah bought the business where her father continued to work even at the age of 86 – three years before his passing.
