Oprah shares personal heartbreak
<p dir="ltr">Oprah Winfrey’s father Vernon has died on July 8 at the age of 89 following a battle with cancer. </p>
<p dir="ltr">The TV personality shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram along with a beautiful video during Vernon’s final days where he was honoured. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“Yesterday with family surrounding his bedside I had the sacred honour of witnessing the man responsible for my life, take his last breath,” she wrote. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“We could feel Peace enter the room at his passing.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“That Peace still abides. All is well. Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Oprah spent Vernon’s final days with him in Nashville, as well as organising a “Vernon Winfrey Appreciation Celebration” backyard BBQ. </p>
<p dir="ltr">During the party, Vernon was seated on a barber chair in honour of his dedicated worklife as Oprah’s friend and gospel singer Wintley Phipps saluted him with song.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">“He FELT the love and reveled in it until he could no longer speak,” she said. </p>
<p dir="ltr">In a clip, Oprah can be heard saying to Vernon: “Thank you for being the kind of father who has brought honour to your life and honour to my life.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">A few weeks earlier on Father’s Day in the US, Oprah honoured her father and reflected on the lessons he taught her. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“If it were not for him, I doubt that anybody in the world would know my name,” she said. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“I know firsthand how the trajectory of life can change by the positive influence of a good father.”</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>
