I watch O alot and I have always wondered if her mother is alive, and if so, do they have a relationship???

She mentions her father and her grandmother (who I think raised her) every now and then but never her mother...I'm thinking her mother was not very supportive early on and they had a falling out. But as O preaches forgiveness as a form of freedom you would think she'd try if that were the case.

Since that Legends Ball special I've wondered even more..cuz I know if I threw a party honoring my legends...my mama would be the first one invited...

anyone know the scoop?

I could be wrong but I *think* I remember her mentioning her mother within the last few years. It was just in passing though. It seems like there's not much of a connection there, she definitely seems closer to her father...

Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 29, 1954. Oprah's mother Vernita Lee worked as a housemaid. Oprah's father Vernon Winfrey was serving in the armed forces. Vernita was 18 when Oprah was born and Vernon was 22.

Click here to see an image of Oprah's family listing in the 1930 Census.


A misprint on Oprah's birth certificate led to her famous first name. Her name was supposed to have been spelled “Orpah” in reference to a biblical figure from the Book of Ruth.


Because her parents were young and unmarried, Oprah was raised by her maternal grandmother Hattie Mae Lee.


Oprah's family was largely agricultural. In early census documents, both sides of her family listed “farmer” as occupation.

* The research for this family tree is only as accurate as the resources we found to verify the information.

Got this from another site which makes sense why she does not gel well with her mother.

Oprah was born on January 29, 1954 to unwed parents, Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey. During her childhood she grew up with her Grandmother on a farm in Kosciusko, Mississippi. As a preteen she moved to live with her Mother in Milwaukee. It was there that she was sexually abused repeatedly by male relatives. As a young teen was always getting in and out of trouble, after some difficult teen years her Mother sent Oprah to live with her Dad in Nashville Tennessee. Her Dad was a barber/businessman and gave her the discipline that she needed. He instilled a strict curfew and kept a close eye on his daughter. Vernon Winfrey also stressed the importance of a good education. It was under his care that Oprah truly started to straighten out her life.



From what I have read her mother is still alive.

ShySlantedEye1 said:

Oprah has also mentioned in print that she had to woek through a period of healling and forgiveness with reference to her mom, because, in addition to the sexual abuse by male relatives, her mother was very cold to her, preferring Oprah's light skinned half sister over her and even declaring so. Rather than being allowed to share a room with the "prettier" sister, Oprah, for some time, was required to sleep in the hallway of her mother's home.

Again, she's said publically moved through a time healing and forgiveness, and even cares for her mother financially, but has also said that they are not close in the way that they spend a lot of time together.

Ottensen said:

I heard she had to sleep on the porch at times

CalhounSq said:

Sounds like something out of Antwon Fischer. Thank God for her triumph!

Now, if she'd only bring some balance to her show...

ThreadBare said:

Lord, I just looked at the misspellings in my post,I SO need to go to bed!!

ThreadBare said:

here

we



GO!!!


j/k

CalhounSq said:

Ya'll are funny. I know how Ms. Oprah feels when it comes to mothers!

You can forget about her changing the feel of the show. It makes too much money.

ShySlantedEye1 said:

Of course, it does. That alone is reason enough...

Keep hope alive.

ShySlantedEye1 said:

need my own show.


"caller, you say what?" indeed...

Man, I cannot picture myself with my own show. That would be scary. First episode would be dedicated to my sister by representing my diva side first. She used to love to dress me up and take me out to torture folks. I crack up on it now.

The second show would be to put bullshiter's on blast. Like all of the shit I have heard from my girlfriends over the years how they can't believe what their boyfriends did or something. I would re-enact it with my version of how I would have responded.

What about you?