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Sister
Ree;
remembered
not just
in
Detroit,
but
around
the
world
By
Laydell
Wood
Harper
Tell Us
USA News
Network
DETROIT
(Tell Us
USA) -
Aretha
Louise
Franklin,
her name
continues
to
resonate,
not just
in
Detroit
but
around
the
world.
Every
day
since
the
announcement
of her
death on
Thursday,
August
16, at
9:50 am,
the
public
has
continued
to share
their
love for
The
Queen of
Soul and
their
memories.
Many of
those
memories
are
marked
by some
of the
singer’s
greatest
hit
recordings.
But we
also
learned
an awful
lot
about
this
hometown
superstar
as
people
from
around
the
world
share
their
stories.
Her fans
have
never
heard
much
about
her
private
life
except
that she
had four
sons;
she
loved
Detroit
and
always
called
Detroit
her
hometown,
and grew
up in
the
Church.
This
past
Sunday
one of
her sons
worshiped
at one
of
Detroit’s
most
respected
churches.
He was
introduced
to the
congregation
as the
son of
Aretha
Franklin.
Immediately
the
congregation
stood
and
erupted
in
applauds
for this
young
man
still
mourning
the loss
of his
beloved
mother.
Worshipers
shook
his hand
and many
gave him
a hug
for
encouragement.
He was
humble
and
noticeably
grateful.
The
Queen of
Soul
memories,
stories
and her
music
continue
to turn
this
very sad
occasion
into
joyous
moments
of
reflection
shared
with the
world.
Smokey
Robinson
commented,
“We’ve
known
each
other
since we
were
kids.
She had
a great
sense of
humor.
She was
a very
humorous
woman.
And, she
could
really
throw
down in
the
kitchen.
Most
people
think
about
Aretha
Franklin
Queen of
Soul not
her
regular
everyday
life.”
Chuck
Stokes,
TV-7
talked
about
how he
and
Aretha
Franklin
lived in
the same
neighborhood
growing
up,
along
with
Diana
Ross and
the
Temptations.
Judge
Craig
Strong
talked
extensively
about
knowing
Ms.
Franklin
and
their
friendship
over the
years
dating
back to
before
age 14
when her
father
the
Reverend
C. L.
Franklin
took him
and
several
friends
to a
local
restaurant.
“Aretha
was a
wonderful
woman, a
phenomenal,
authentic,
one of a
kind
human
being. I
grew up
with her
music.”
“She
had a
great
sense of
humor,”
comments
Judge
Strong.
“I can
recall
showing
her a
copy of
Ebony
Magazine
with her
picture
on the
front
cover.
She
laughed
and
said,
“Who is
that
fine
Chick?”
Strong
continues,
“I
especially
loved
the
comments
that
allowed
people
to see a
different
side of
Aretha.
She was
not just
an
entertainer.
She was
a civil
rights
activist
who used
her own
money to
help
when
Martin
Luther
King or
other
civil
rights
leaders
needed
help. I
was so
proud to
see her
sing at
President
Obama’s
Inauguration
and the
dedication
of the
MLK
Statue.”
Strong
comments,
“We were
honored
to have
her in
Detroit.
She was
loyal to
us and
we were
loyal to
her.”
She
was the
Queen of
Soul and
no one
can take
that
title
away
from
her.
Another
fan
commented,”
I could
always
tell
what
kind of
mood my
mom was
in by
the
Aretha
Franklin
song she
was
playing.
Al
Sharpton
interviewed
Ms.
Franklin
shortly
after
she sang
the
National
Anthem
at
President
Obama’s
inauguration.
Sharpton
asked,
“What
was it
like to
be asked
to sing
at the
inauguration
of the
First
Black
President
of the
United
States?”
“It was
absolutely
tremendous,”
said Ms.
Franklin.
“It was
absolutely
tremendous
to look
out as
far as
you
could
see, and
see the
throngs
of
people
in front
of you;
to the
right
and to
the
left.
Standing
there
after my
father
marched
for
civil
rights,
and
knowing
that
this
moment
in
history
evolved
out of
the
civil
rights
movement.
This is
the
fruition
of their
struggles,
your
struggles
and my
struggles.”
“Aretha
Franklin
was one
who used
her
platform
to lift
people
up,”
Sharpton
remarks.
“My
prayers
go out
to the
family
of
Aretha
Franklin.
She gave
money,
helped
get
people
out of
jail,
and she
never
forgot
her
roots.
If your
roots
are weak
you will
never be
able to
survive.”
The
public
viewing
will be
August
28-29 at
the
Charles
H.
Wright
Museum,
and
August
30 at
New
Bethel
Church.
The
private
funeral
service
for
family,
friends
and
selected
guests
will be
held
August
31 at
Greater
Grace
Church.
Aretha
Franklin
will be
laid to
rest at
Detroit’s
Woodlawn
Cemetery.
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