Life Oprah Winfrey remembers her mother, Vernita Lee: ‘She lived a good life’ November 26, 2018November 26, 2018Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal SentinelComments Off on Oprah Winfrey remembers her mother, Vernita Lee: ‘She lived a good life’ Vernita Lee, Oprah Winfrey's mother, died on Thanksgiving at her home in Milwaukee, her family announced Monday. She was 83.