Barbara Siggers Franklin: Difference between revisions
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'''Barbara Vernice Siggers Franklin''' (born June 29, 1917 in [[Shelby, Mississippi]]; died March 7, 1952 in [[Buffalo, New York]]) was the [[mother]] of the legendary Soul and Gospel singer [[Aretha Franklin]] and wife of [[C. L. Franklin]], the famous black [[Baptist]] preacher. She married Clarence LaVaughn Franklin on June 3, 1936, and the marriage produced four children between 1938 and 1944: [[Erma Franklin|Erma]], Cecil, [[Aretha]], and [[Carolyn Franklin|Carolyn]]. Prior to the marriage, Barbara had already given birth to her son [[Vaughn]] - from a previous relationship - on December 24, 1934. Reverend Franklin adopted Vaughn shortly thereafter. (As of 2009 Vaughn resides with his family in Mobile, Alabama and still travels with Aretha.) |
'''Barbara Vernice Siggers Franklin''' (born June 29, 1917 in [[Shelby, Mississippi]]; died March 7, 1952 in [[Buffalo, New York]]) was the [[mother]] of the legendary Soul and Gospel singer [[Aretha Franklin]] and wife of [[C. L. Franklin]], the famous black [[Baptist]] preacher. She married Clarence LaVaughn Franklin on June 3, 1936, and the marriage produced four children between 1938 and 1944: [[Erma Franklin|Erma]], Cecil, [[Aretha]], and [[Carolyn Franklin|Carolyn]]. Prior to the marriage, Barbara had already given birth to her son [[Vaughn]] - from a previous relationship - on December 24, 1934. Reverend Franklin adopted Vaughn shortly thereafter. (As of 2009 Vaughn resides with his family in Mobile, Alabama and still travels with Aretha.) |
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Barbara was a gifted pianist and, according to [[Mahalia Jackson]], one of the finest Gospel singers in the country. C. L. and the couple's four children moved on to [[Detroit, Michigan]] in 1946. At this time C. L. became the esteemed Pastor of the [[New Bethel Baptist Church]]. The church was originally located on Hastings Street in Detroit's all Negro [[Black Bottom]] district. It was re-opened in 1963 at Linwood and West Philadelphia Streets on Detroit's West Side following Urban Renewal's demolishion of the condemned [[Black Bottom]] district. Marital trouble stemming from C. L.'s numerous and ongoing infidelities - including a daughter he had fathered (named Carl Ellan Kelley (née Jennings)) by Milldred Jennings, a 13-year-old congregant in Memphis in 1940) - reportedly caused Barbara to leave C. L. It is a matter of dispute as to whether or not Barbara |
Barbara was a gifted pianist and, according to [[Mahalia Jackson]], one of the finest Gospel singers in the country. C. L. and the couple's four children moved on to [[Detroit, Michigan]] in 1946. At this time C. L. became the esteemed Pastor of the [[New Bethel Baptist Church]]. The church was originally located on Hastings Street in Detroit's all Negro [[Black Bottom]] district. It was re-opened in 1963 at Linwood and West Philadelphia Streets on Detroit's West Side following Urban Renewal's demolishion of the condemned [[Black Bottom]] district. Marital trouble stemming from C. L.'s numerous and ongoing infidelities - including a daughter he had fathered (named Carl Ellan Kelley (née Jennings)) by Milldred Jennings, a 13-year-old congregant in Memphis in 1940) - reportedly caused Barbara to leave C. L. It is a matter of dispute as to whether or not Barbara ever came to Detroit. Most sources claim that she stayed behind in Buffalo with Vaughn while the rest of the family relocated to the [[Motor City]]. |
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Though it has been widely reported that Barbara Franklin 'deserted' her children, Aretha Franklin has disputed that rumor, and C. L. Franklin's biographer, Prof. Nick Salvatore of [[Cornell University]], takes pains to discredit it. According to Salvatore, Barbara Franklin made visits to Detroit to see her children, and during their summer vacations they travelled to Buffalo for stays with their mother. Other sources claim that Barbara never saw her children again after their relocation to [[Motown]]. |
Though it has been widely reported that Barbara Franklin 'deserted' her children, Aretha Franklin has disputed that rumor, and C. L. Franklin's biographer, Prof. Nick Salvatore of [[Cornell University]], takes pains to discredit it. According to Salvatore, Barbara Franklin made visits to Detroit to see her children, and during their summer vacations they travelled to Buffalo for stays with their mother. Other sources claim that Barbara never saw her children again after their relocation to [[Motown]]. |
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Revision as of 22:48, 1 June 2009
Barbara Vernice Siggers Franklin (born June 29, 1917 in Shelby, Mississippi; died March 7, 1952 in Buffalo, New York) was the mother of the legendary Soul and Gospel singer Aretha Franklin and wife of C. L. Franklin, the famous black Baptist preacher. She married Clarence LaVaughn Franklin on June 3, 1936, and the marriage produced four children between 1938 and 1944: Erma, Cecil, Aretha, and Carolyn. Prior to the marriage, Barbara had already given birth to her son Vaughn - from a previous relationship - on December 24, 1934. Reverend Franklin adopted Vaughn shortly thereafter. (As of 2009 Vaughn resides with his family in Mobile, Alabama and still travels with Aretha.)
Barbara was a gifted pianist and, according to Mahalia Jackson, one of the finest Gospel singers in the country. C. L. and the couple's four children moved on to Detroit, Michigan in 1946. At this time C. L. became the esteemed Pastor of the New Bethel Baptist Church. The church was originally located on Hastings Street in Detroit's all Negro Black Bottom district. It was re-opened in 1963 at Linwood and West Philadelphia Streets on Detroit's West Side following Urban Renewal's demolishion of the condemned Black Bottom district. Marital trouble stemming from C. L.'s numerous and ongoing infidelities - including a daughter he had fathered (named Carl Ellan Kelley (née Jennings)) by Milldred Jennings, a 13-year-old congregant in Memphis in 1940) - reportedly caused Barbara to leave C. L. It is a matter of dispute as to whether or not Barbara ever came to Detroit. Most sources claim that she stayed behind in Buffalo with Vaughn while the rest of the family relocated to the Motor City.
Though it has been widely reported that Barbara Franklin 'deserted' her children, Aretha Franklin has disputed that rumor, and C. L. Franklin's biographer, Prof. Nick Salvatore of Cornell University, takes pains to discredit it. According to Salvatore, Barbara Franklin made visits to Detroit to see her children, and during their summer vacations they travelled to Buffalo for stays with their mother. Other sources claim that Barbara never saw her children again after their relocation to Motown.
Barbara died - reportedly at her parent's home - in Buffalo, New York on March 7, 1952 under mysterious circumstances. She was only 34 years old.
References
Further reading
- Salvatore, Nick, "Singing in a Strange Land: C. L. Franklin, the Black Church, and the Transformation of America", Little Brown, 2005, Hardcover ISBN 0-316-16037-7.
- Schwerin, Jules, "Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel", Oxford University Press, 1992, Paperback ISBN 0-19-509050-0.