Television tycoon Oprah Winfrey’s father sadly died last Friday.
Oprah’s beloved father, Vernon Winfrey, passed away at the age of eighty-eight years old.
Vernon died on July 8 in East Nashville.
Sharing a “poignant” tribute to him, Oprah posted a video on July 4 showing friend and gospel singer Wintley Phipps with his hand on Vernon, as they prayed to God.
She had surprised her father by organizing a Vernon Winfrey appreciation day on that day.
But it was Oprah’s tribute video that touched our hearts…
“Less than a week ago we honored my father in his own backyard. My friend and gospel singer Wintley Phipps saluted him with song. He FELT the love and reveled in it until he could no longer speak.
“Yesterday with family surrounding his bedside, I had the sacred honor of witnessing the man responsible for my life, take his last breath. We could feel Peace enter the room at his passing,” Oprah wrote on Instagram.
Oprah said the day was special because she wanted to “celebrate him while he’s able to receive the joy.”
“My father is ill, so we wanted to be able to have all of his friends come and celebrate him while he’s able to receive the joy. So that’s what we’re doing,” she said.
While Oprah shared that she had a strained relationship with her mother, the same couldn’t be said about her father…
She said that her father took her in after she experienced “s*xual abuse” and that “changed the course” of her life.
TMZ reports that Vernon’s long-time employees were the first to confirm his death to a television station in Nashville…
Vernon died after battling cancer.
Rest in peace, Vernon Winfrey.