DETROIT — Detroit education leader Tyrone E. Winfrey Sr. passed away Saturday, November 5 according to public social media postings by his children. Winfrey served as Executive Director of Community Outreach for Detroit Public Schools Community District. He also served in prior years as the President of Detroit Board of Education.
Earlier this year, Winfrey was tapped by the DPSCD Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti to lead the creation of a large-scale alumni gala celebration. The weekend of events welcomed alumni from across the city and country back to Detroit and to the school district for a Taste of Livernois block party, a city bike tour, and an award show gala.
“My dear friend has gotten his wings,” Wayne County Sherriff Rapheal Washington said in a facebook post. “…his soul now rests with Jesus. Winfrey family from my family, we will continue to keep you in prayer.”
In a May interview with WXYZ-TV’s Carolyn Clifford, Winfrey talked about battling cancer again after beating it once before. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017. “I was blindsided. I was working out, the picture of health, eating healthy,” Winfrey said.
Winfrey was passionate about Detroit students obtaining a great education and being accepted into college. In prior years, he served as Outreach Admissions Coordinator at Michigan State University and Associate Director and Detroit Admissions Office Director at University of Michigan.
Winfrey had a strong educational background with a Master of Arts Degree focused in Counselor Education from Wayne State University, and a Bachelor of Science Degree within Organizational Communication from the University of Wyoming. He was also a 1977 graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit.
He is survived by his three children, Chad, Lauren, and Tyrone Jr. and his wife, Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey.