Oprah’s father, Vernon Winfrey, passed away at the age of 88 after battling cancer.

A local city councilman announced the news of his passing, which occurred after Oprah celebrated her father on July 4th with a party.

She said during the time of the appreciation party, “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.”

Oprah said in her tribute post, “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 as his passing.”

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