Hundreds gather to send off Vernon Winfrey, longtime Nashville business owner, community leader
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Vernon Winfrey's longtime friend, Ludye Wallace, stood Thursday afternoon in the summer sun, speaking to a visitor as funeral attendants flowed out of The Temple Church.
Suddenly, Wallace recognized a familiar voice.
"Mr. Wallace!"
He hustled to the side of a black SUV and held the hand of Winfrey's daughter. She smiled. A tear rolled down his cheek as he did the same.
Wallace was surprised Oprah Winfrey, an internationally-known media executive, recognized him after all these years. He remembers when she was a teenager living and maturing from her father's Nashville home.
Previously: Funeral services Thursday for Vernon Winfrey, former city councilmember, barber shop owner
Read this: Vernon Winfrey, former Nashville Metro councilman and Oprah Winfrey's father, dies
Decades later, these longtime family friends embraced, sharing a private conversation following an emotional sendoff for a special man. Vernon Winfrey, a former Metro councilmember and longtime Nashville business owner, died last Friday, surrounded by loved ones.
His many supporters returned Thursday.
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I'm going to put on my robe,
Tell the story how I made it over
Soon as I get home.
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Mentor to many
Vernon Winfrey, a longtime barber shop owner, helped to preserve the Cleveland Park neighborhood of East Nashville. He served on Metro Council from 1975-1991. He also served as a charter member of Faith United Missionary Baptist Church and a deacon for 45 years.
He also helped to raise one of the most influential people on the planet. And mentored many others, including Wallace.
Always calm and cool, Winfrey taught Wallace how to navigate local politics.
Oprah Winfrey, at home in Nashville
Oprah Winfrey arrived, wearing a long, white dress. The one-time Nashville resident and journalist turned media executive was accompanied by her partner, Stedman Graham, and her friend, Gayle King.
Days before her father died, Oprah Winfrey threw a "celebration of life" party for him. Music flowed, food was shared and loved ones surrounded the community leader with joy until he could "no longer speak," Oprah Winfrey said in a social media post.
Related: Oprah Winfrey's connections to Nashville
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You made me happy
This you can bet
You stood right beside me,
And I won't forget.
...
Dwight Lewis, a retired reporter and columnist at The Tennessean, said the most important part of the day was treasuring the man Vernon Winfrey was.
"Every person has their own name," said Lewis, a friend of the family. "It's important people recognize his."
The funeral procession of vehicles climbed the hill outside of the church, its white walls stark against the blue sky.
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The bell was ringin'
Our souls were singin'
Do you remember, never a cloudy day?
Reach reporter Molly Davis at mdavis2@gannett.com or on Twitter @mollym_davis.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Funeral for Oprah Winfrey's dad, Vernon Winfrey, in Nashville
