Vernon Winfrey (Barber): Who was Oprah Winfrey’s father?

Vernon Winfrey is the father of Oprah Winfrey. He gained fame as a barber in the East Nashville area. He started his career as a barber in 1964.

He has been a coal miner, then purchased a barbershop that still exists today and was also an elected city councilman. He was born in Mississippi to Elmore Winfrey and Beatrice Winfrey.

He grew up with eight other siblings and started working on their family farm from a young age. Born in a poor household at a time when it was difficult for African-Americans to get equal rights, he managed to rise through the ranks.

Vernon’s barbershop has an attachment grocery store and in 2012, the building which houses the shop had gone into foreclosure. Oprah bought the building and saved the barbershop.