Shortly after local Nashville news sites reported her father Vernon Winfrey’s death on Friday night, Oprah Winfrey confirmed the news. Age-wise, he was 88.
The media mogul, 68, posted a video of her father dated July 4th with the words “Vernon Winfrey 1933-2022,” indicating that their immediate family was aware that he was battling cancer.
“We honored my father in his own garden less than a week ago. Wintley Phipps, a gospel musician and my buddy, sang a song in his honor, she said. “Until he lost his ability to communicate, he FELT the love and luxuriated in it.
“I had the holy distinction of witnessing the man who gave me life draw his last breath yesterday with family at his bedside. At his demise, we felt Peace enter the space.
“That Peace still abides,” she added. “All is well. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts 🙏🏾.”
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The Oprah Daily Instagram account added within her comment section, “Rest In Peace Mr. Winfrey 🕊 What a beautiful tribute in person and through the written word ❤️.”
“It is with a heavy heart that we can confirm that Vernon Winfrey, Oprah’s father, died away yesterday at the age of 89,” the page said in its own statement about Vernon’s passing.
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The account also shared a post from “Lady O” two days prior describing the “Vernon Winfrey Appreciation Celebration” as a way to celebrate the barber and businessman, “while he was still well enough to fully take in the praise and gratitude of the people whose lives he touched.”
“Thank you for being the kind of father who has brought honor to your life and honor to my life,” Oprah said during the ceremony before her father’s passing.