Tributes to Oprah from Her Ultimate Viewers

As promised, all week we’re going to be posting tributes to Oprah from our fellow Ultimate Viewers. These are the people we went to Australia with, the people who moved us with their stories and who inspire us with their compassion. They are people we are now proud to call our friends.

We’ve included websites for anyone who has one, so you can see some of the incredible work Oprah’s Ultimate Viewers are doing.

We paid tribute to Oprah ourselves today, when reporter Marcella Lee of KFMB Channel 8 in San Diego came over to watch the second to last show with us. We tried not to go into the ugly cry, but…

TiGre McNear

Some think it is strange when children have imaginary friends. I find it rather intriguing that anyone would believe someone or something invisible can be so detrimental to the development of one’s entire existence. Oprah has been that to me.

When my 13-year-old life spiraled into darkness, Oprah, my imaginary friend, was there to give me a glimpse of light. I knew that the God that I loved had sent me a representative of Himself so that I would not stray too far from the road He had chosen for me. She had actually lived what I was going through and she would understand my tears. I would write two letters weekly, one to God and one to Oprah. My hope was that they were both connecting with me through the atmosphere.

As I grew into adulthood, I was forced into the reality that my imaginary friend would have to go. I didn’t want to appear crazy, so I found solace in the fact that I could tap into her world at any time because I had stored inside of me every lesson and every encouraging message that she had shared. I knew that God was listening all the time, so when I was about to tell my imaginary friend good-bye for good, He released the connection from the atmosphere and I was invited to go to the premiere show of Oprah’s 25th and final season! See, 25 had always been a special number to me and only an imaginary friend would know that. I was born on the 25th, baptized on the 25th, and married on the 25th!

God was telling me that my imaginary friend, Oprah, was reality for me and that I had come full circle.

 

Priscilla Nelson – (Nelson Art)

Oprah came to our home everyday. Sitting down in front of us, she always had something interesting to say, wise words to share, letting us know that she understood. All of a sudden, I was a single parent, raising my daughter, Avalon. Oprah became not just a dear visitor; she gracefully stepped in as a wise co-parent. She always knew how to start those “touchy” conversations and, equally important, she arrived with a panel of experts to answers all those questions that she knew Avalon and I would have.

Avalon just finished her sophomore year of college. She is a wonderful, compassionate human being, and I am so proud to call Avalon my daughter!

I’m sure that Oprah would also be proud.

 

Epiphany Toi Williams – (Epiphany Rise)

Wow! Where do I begin? How has Ms. Winfrey changed my life? Well, long story short. Ms. Winfrey has helped to shape and develop my life to become an empowered woman, to release the guilt, the shame, and the fear.  She has taught me to be open, forgive, and have compassion for others. To ALLOW people to be who they are. To live my life and OWN it.

Ms. Winfrey has been the only mother figure I ever had, the one who taught me how to be a woman.  When I started watching The Oprah Show, I was literally split into pieces. 25 years later, I am whole. I would often dream of Oprah as the years passed. She would hug me in my dreams and say, “well done,” just like a mother would. These two words speak volumes.

THANK YOU, Ms. Winfrey. Thank you for always being there. For the laughs, tears, the mind provoking thoughts, the insight, the knowledge, the empowerment, the lessons, your guests, the trip of a lifetime, the blessings.

Ms. Winfrey has shown me that DREAMS DO COME TRUE and that I can do anything I want to do. She has been the best mentor and has inspired me to do the same. Since going to Australia and staying on an Island for the first time in my life (and, yes, getting that hug from Oprah!), I fell in love. I am now a newly-published author. I live in St. Thomas US-VI by blue water and white sand.

So, thanks, Ms. Winfrey, for showing me peace and that it was always within my reach. Peace, love, light and continued blessings to you. YOU will be missed but will be forever in my heart. And I will be forever grateful and appreciative. Thank you for my Epiphany, Ms.Winfrey.

 

Mary Le

I am absolutely grateful that I have had the opportunity to have Oprah in my life for over 15 years. She has been my best teacher. I lost my Aunt, who was like a second mother to me, and I just remember Oprah saying that when you lose someone, you really have an Angel watching over you. That idea has helped me cope tremendously.

I’ve been blessed to have been in Oprah’s presence during the Ultimate Australian Adventure. I’ve implemented every little lesson that I have learned and applied them in everyday life. I now eat a healthy diet, watch my finances and save for the future. I have de-cluttered my house, have my home rise up to greet me when I arrive, and live in the present moment. I’ve also learned that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction — what you put out always comes back to you.

Oprah has taught me there is no such thing as luck; rather, it’s when preparation meets opportunity. She herself is a living example that anything in life is possible.

 

Keisha C. Kuma – (Sins of Thy Mother)

 In one word, Oprah is light. She is that spirit that reaches out to you in your darkest moments and shows you your way out. She is the ray of sunlight that warms you when you are trembling with pain and fear. She is the soul of your conscious that speaks to your heart and reminds you of your true purpose. For 25 years, she has been the world’s lighthouse, guiding us to shore through the stormy seas.

What I feel is mixed at the ending of her show. I am happy that she is moving on to her next chapter. I am hopeful that all the lessons she has taught over the past 25 years will be remembered. I am scared that one day, somewhere out there, someone will be lost in the dark and not have her light. I am optimistic that, because of the light we have all basked in for 25 years, we will be there for that person who is lost in the dark and, as Oprah has taught us, be that spirit that shows them their way out.

I chose this picture because after losing both my parents, and being diagnosed with MS, Oprah reached out to me in my darkness and I was able to publish my first novel and travel to the other side of the world to begin to heal. In my darkness, I was only looking for a glimmer of sunshine. Oprah showed me that light can be found in the darkness … it’s called the moon.

 

Joni White

I have been watching Oprah since 1984, when she started on “A.M. Chicago!” I didn’t watch EVERY episode because I was busy raising three children. Once my husband and I moved up in the media technology and bought a VCR, I was then able to tape The Oprah Show and watch her in the evenings, when I had some free time. This usually happened on Friday nights; I would sit in front of the TV in my bedroom, and have a glass of pop or wine and a big bowl of potato chips! I know, not very healthy — the more I learned from Oprah, I knew I needed to change this habit!

One day, I was frustrated and bored walking/running on my treadmill, listening to music and watching the clock. I remember praying to God for wisdom and strength to keep exercising even though I wasn’t too motivated. I ‘heard’ Him say, “Well, you watch Oprah, why don’t you use this tool while you are exercising?” I asked my husband to put a shelf in front of my treadmill, and he installed a small TV with a built-in VCR in our unfinished section of the basement.

So, for about the past ten years, Oprah has motivated me to get up before dawn, two to three times a week (sometimes more!), and walk/jog on my treadmill for 45 minutes (her show without commercials).

Oprah has been my mentor, doctor, therapist, exercise buddy, and friend for so long that I made a video of my “Top Ten Reasons that I am an Oprah Show Ultimate Viewer.” That is how I was selected to accompany her and 301 other Ultimate Viewers to Australia. I have been to about 14 tapings throughout her career, most of those with my “Oprah Buddy,” Cathy Laughery.

I have no idea what I will find to watch now to motivate me to get up so early, as Oprah did. It’s a good thing the weather is finally getting warmer so I can walk/jog outside for a few months and ponder the thought! Hopefully, I can figure out how to tape the DVR onto a VCR tape, and then I can just tape OWN. Can anyone out there help me?!

 

Elizabeth Toole

As the sun sets on The Oprah Show, I can’t help but reflect upon the last 23 years I have been watching. The lessons learned were many. One in particular was Oprah challenging us to dare to dream. Her telling us that “God could dream a bigger dream for us than we could dream for ourselves” allowed me to believe that anything was possible. I was so inspired that I did dream. From those dreams came the trip of a lifetime to Australia with Oprah and 301 other Ultimate Viewers. I am grateful to have met such amazing people.

One of the other greatest lessons I learned from Oprah was that it really does take a village to raise a child. So, whenever I can, I give back to my community. I am especially involved in literacy for children.

From Chicago to a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada, Oprah has left a lasting impression. She has been a mentor, teacher, therapist and friend. Having had the opportunity to have met her in person, I assure you she is just like everyone’s best friend. So as much as I will miss her in my home everyday, I thank her for sharing her life with us and I look forward to seeing her soar on OWN.