Vernon Winfrey, Oprah's father and former councilman, , 

"Yesterday with family surrounding his bedside I had the sacred honor of witnessing the man responsible for my life, take his last breath,"

[{"selector":"#anim-ebca5bb7-562a-4851-b428-9e40486bd50d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-17.357142905892125%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Vernon Winfrey, Oprah Winfrey's father, died late Friday after battling cancer, Oprah announced in a statement. He was 89.

[{"selector":"#anim-4241ed8f-c356-42c7-9c21-93ed036ed1f6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Oprah was able to spend time with her father in Nashville during his final weeks, according to a memorial posted on Oprah Daily, the media giant's lifestyle website.

[{"selector":"#anim-be62809c-8e77-4697-9eae-f9f619b5d821 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(15.428571471904101%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Alongside his friends and family, Vernon was saluted by gospel singer Wintley Phipps, who performed a song for him.

[{"selector":"#anim-0e2b0d8c-367d-483b-885a-5d49a84f6ced [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(10.500000029490295%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] A "Vernon Winfrey Appreciation Celebration" and backyard BBQ were held as a surprise for Vernon on July 4. He was joined by friends and family.

[{"selector":"#anim-6f1905f6-83a4-4e90-a817-a6c013d56050 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(16.571428617971073%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] In a previous post, Oprah stated that the party was an opportunity for her to offer her father "flowers while he's still well enough to smell them."

[{"selector":"#anim-ec7055ea-a441-4cf2-a789-d3d3acb62ebd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-4.642857155897072%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] "I send Vernon Winfrey's family my sincere sympathies. Vernon spent 16 years in Metro Council and focused his life on business, barbering,

[{"selector":"#anim-7f89ebd0-f7bb-4dc5-ac9b-717be71230ae [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] A "Vernon Winfrey Appreciation Celebration" and backyard BBQ were held as a surprise for Vernon on July 4. He was joined by friends and family.

[{"selector":"#anim-518626ac-1f5f-42b1-8da3-85980beee0cc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Oprah Winfrey said last week that she was visiting her father in Nashville, Tennessee, and that she would be "offering [him] his 'flowers'."