Photo: JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP/Getty
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit is hosting two days of public open-casket visitations. Franklindied at age 76ofpancreatic canceron Aug. 16.
On Tuesday, the first of the two days, hundreds of people, some of whom spent the night on the sidewalk to save their spots in line, showed up to pay their respects,theDetroit Free Pressreported.
Franklin’s body was dressed in a red suit and crimson pumpsin a gold-plated casket. Gold thread spelled out “Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul” in the casket’s lining.
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The casket arrived in a white 1940 Cadillac LaSalle hearse,theDetroit Free Pressnoted. The historic vehicle has also carried the bodies of Franklin’s fatherRev. C.L. Franklinin 1984, singer David Ruffin in 1991, andRosa Parksin 2005.
“It was very moving,” Detroit resident Charlotte Smith told theDetroit Free Press. “She has a beautiful smile. … She looks serene resting as a true queen.”
“She’s the Queen,” Melissa Howard, who traveled from Austin for the event, said to the outlet. “She’s royalty. She’s worth it.”
“She meant so much to so many people,” Frances Billingslea of Detroit said to theDetroit Free Press. “She’s a local talent. She was a down-home spirit. She didn’t put herself above anybody even though she was the Queen of Soul. She did so much for this community.”
Franklin’s funeral, which will be streamed online and on television, will take place on Friday.
Former presidentBill Clinton,Smokey Robinson,Rev. Jesse Jackson,Cicely Tyson, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Clive Davis, and others will speak at the funeral.Stevie Wonder,Jennifer Hudson,Fantasia,Faith Hill,Chaka Khan, and otherswill performat the service.
source: people.com
