Why is there limited information about Aretha Franklin’s family? According to reports, Aretha Franklin is a legendary singer known as the “Queen of Soul”. Some of the fans know her as a paternal half-sister of  Carl Ellan Kelley. Carl Ellan’s life was not immersed in music or public service like her family. However, she lives with her tight-knit family and the remarkable community in Memphis, Tenn. Carl was out of the limelight of the media, but she played a major role in the Franklin family story.

In this article, you will get the essential information about Carl Ellan Kelley’s background, lifestyle, her legacy and more.

Quick Facts About Carl Ellan Kelley

Carl Ellan Kelley: Absolute Identity

Carl Ellan Kelley was one of the sisters of the legendary singer Aretha Franklin and daughter of prominent civil rights activist and minister, Rev. C. L. Franklin.

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All the siblings decided to enter the entertainment field. However, Carl chose a different path for herself. Mostly, she lived in Memphis, Tennessee, where her career was never her priority, but she was more focused towards her family. She didn’t go about making a name for herself, but her life is instructive in the personal history of one of America’s most celebrated families.

Carl Ellan’s Early Life and Family Background

Carl Ellan Kelley was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tenn. Her father, Rev. Clarence LaVaughn (C. L.), was pastor of New Salem Baptist Church in Memphis, before moving to Buffalo, NY, where he was later pastor at the historic New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit.

Her mother was Mildred Jennings, part of the congregation of the church in Memphis. Carl Ellan was mostly reared by her grandmother, Mrs Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry. Carl Ellan’s childhood was much different from that of her younger half-siblings, born in Memphis. Carl Ellan grew up in Detroit and New York, in the midst of powerful musicians, gospel singers and civil rights activists, but life was peaceful.

Carl Ellan’s Relationship With Franklin Family

Carl Ellan was the oldest daughter of Rev. C. L. Franklin and had strong family connections with several of the other remarkable children of the family:

• Erma Franklin (1938-2002): She is famous for recording the original version of Piece of My Heart.
• Cecil Franklin (1940-1989): Minister and Aretha’s business manager.
• Aretha Franklin (1942 – 2018): Well-appreciated international music star known as the “Queen of Soul.
• Carolyn Franklin (1944-1988): Known as a great songwriter and singer who wrote the iconic Ain’t No Way.
• Vaughn Franklin: Adopted stepsbrother.

Carl Ellan focused her attention on her family life in Tennessee, while her sisters were making a name in music for themselves internationally. She stayed out of the limelight but was nevertheless a well-respected member of the Franklin family and had family ties throughout her life.

Artist’s Name in Historical Records

Carl Ellan Kelley didn’t get much mention in any biographies of Aretha Franklin for many years. The recording of her story was greatly expanded with the publication of the book Singing in a Strange Land: C. L. Franklin, the Black Church, and the Transformation of America by historian Nick Salvatore. The biography examined the Rev. C. L. Franklin’s short stint in the ministry in Memphis and delved further into his family and children.

After Aretha Franklin passed away in 2018, there has been a renewed interest in the Franklin family history. Moreover, evidenced through documentaries, biographies and the movie Respect. The study of family history led to a better understanding of Carl Ellan’s part in the Franklin family and a greater recognition of it.

Carl’s Personal Life And Family

Carl Ellan Kelley devoted her life to her family and to her community, Memphis, Illinois.

She married Herman E Wheatley, Jr., and they had children. Her children included:

• Herman E. Wheatley III 

• Charles G. Smith
• Vivian Smith

Friends of Carl Ellan recalled her as a kind, strong and helpful woman who cherished the heritage of her family, but was a woman of her own values.

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Death and Legacy

Carl Ellan Kelley passed away peacefully in Jan 2019 in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 78. Family and friends from Memphis and other areas came to pay their respects at her funeral at the request of her family at Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery in Memphis.

Carl Ellan was the last surviving child of Rev. C. L. Franklin, and an important page was turned in the Franklin family when she died. Carl Ellan Kelley’s life is a part of the Franklin family legacy, although she never sought to be known. Her story is an example of a family that played a significant role in music, religion and civil rights but isn’t as well-known for its other accomplishments.