Vernon Winfrey

About

Best known as the father of Oprah Winfrey. He worked at Vanderbilt University for a time, doing janitorial work. He left in 1964 to set up shop his own barbershop, where he would remain for more than 50 years. He kept working until the age of 86. For 16 years, he served on the Metro Nashville City Council. He was also a trustee for Tennessee State University. 

Before Fame

He served in the United States Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. 

Trivia

John Cooper, the mayor of Nashville, tweeted his condolences to the Winfrey family in July of 2022, upon hearing of Winfrey's passing. Cooper made mention of his position as a church deacon, which remains a lesser-known fact. 

Family Life

He was born in Mississippi, United States. Winfrey was never married to Oprah's mother, Vernita Lee. Lee had given birth as a teenager, after having had sexual intercourse with Winfrey one time. This didn't prevent Winfrey from taking responsibility for his daughter, although he never requested a paternity test and could not be sure of paternity. When Oprah was 14, she was sent to live with her father. 

Associated With

Stedman Graham has been long engaged to Oprah Winfrey.