| Oprah Gail Winfrey was born to Vernita Lee and | | | | Winfrey made friends with the farm animals and, |
| Vernon Winfrey on a remote farm in Kosciusko, | | | | under the strict guidance of her grandmother, she |
| Mississippi, on January 29, 1954. Her name was | | | | learned to read at two and a half years old. She |
| supposed to be Orpah, from the Bible, but because | | | | addressed her church congregation about "when |
| of the complexity of spelling and pronunciation, she | | | | Jesus rose on Easter Day" when she was two years |
| was known as Oprah almost from birth. Winfrey's | | | | old. Then Winfrey skipped kindergarten after writing |
| unmarried parents separated quickly after she was | | | | a note to her teacher on the first day of school |
| born and left her in the care of her caring | | | | saying she belonged in the first grade. She was |
| grandmother on the farm. | | | | promoted to third grade after that year. |