Oprah Winfrey’s holiday weekend was filled with highs and lows, as her momVernita Lee diedon Thursday, the same day the media mogul hosted a bigThanksgivinggathering at her Montecito, Calif. home.For the fourth year in a row, chefKenny Gilbert, owner of Gilbert’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, came to Winfrey’s house to help her prepare the turkeys. They had three smokers going outside and the former talk show host, 64, said in anInstagram video, “All I’m going to do at the end is, I’m going to add a little garnish.”Winfrey asked followers to understand that she doesn’t cook the whole meal herself.“People, please, don’t go hating,” she continued on Instagram. “I have a lot of help.”Oprah Winfrey with her mom Vernita Lee and sister Patricia.OWN CommunicationsTheA Wrinkle in Timestar, sporting a “The Future is Female” t-shirt, also wished her fans, “Happy Thanksgiving!”In another video, a boisterous Winfrey welcomed guests — she includes alums from her Leadership Academy in South Africa in the festivities every year — to her house with song.“Every time a new girl arrives we sing them home,” shewroteon Instagram on Thursday. “Makes for an even happier Thanksgiving.”A family spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday thatLeedied on Thanksgiving at her home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was laid to rest in a private funeral over the weekend.RELATED VIDEO:Oprah WinfreyPays Tribute to Her Late Mother Vernita Lee: ‘She Lived a Good Life’Winfreyshared a tributeto her late mother when she posted a picture of her family — including her longtime partner Steadman Graham — on Monday.“Thank you all for your kind words and condolences regardingmy motherVernita Lee’s passing,” WinfreyInstagrammed. “It gives our family great comfort knowing she lived a good life and is now at Peace.”
Oprah Winfrey’s holiday weekend was filled with highs and lows, as her momVernita Lee diedon Thursday, the same day the media mogul hosted a bigThanksgivinggathering at her Montecito, Calif. home.
For the fourth year in a row, chefKenny Gilbert, owner of Gilbert’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, came to Winfrey’s house to help her prepare the turkeys. They had three smokers going outside and the former talk show host, 64, said in anInstagram video, “All I’m going to do at the end is, I’m going to add a little garnish.”
Winfrey asked followers to understand that she doesn’t cook the whole meal herself.
“People, please, don’t go hating,” she continued on Instagram. “I have a lot of help.”
Oprah Winfrey with her mom Vernita Lee and sister Patricia.OWN Communications
TheA Wrinkle in Timestar, sporting a “The Future is Female” t-shirt, also wished her fans, “Happy Thanksgiving!”
In another video, a boisterous Winfrey welcomed guests — she includes alums from her Leadership Academy in South Africa in the festivities every year — to her house with song.
“Every time a new girl arrives we sing them home,” shewroteon Instagram on Thursday. “Makes for an even happier Thanksgiving.”
A family spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday thatLeedied on Thanksgiving at her home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was laid to rest in a private funeral over the weekend.
RELATED VIDEO:Oprah WinfreyPays Tribute to Her Late Mother Vernita Lee: ‘She Lived a Good Life’
Winfreyshared a tributeto her late mother when she posted a picture of her family — including her longtime partner Steadman Graham — on Monday.
“Thank you all for your kind words and condolences regardingmy motherVernita Lee’s passing,” WinfreyInstagrammed. “It gives our family great comfort knowing she lived a good life and is now at Peace.”
source: people.com
