Barbara Siggers Franklin
Encyclopedia
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 C.L. Franklin on June 3, 1936, and the marriage produced four children between 1938 and 1944: Erma
(1938–2002), Cecil (1940–1989), Aretha
(b. 1942), and Carolyn
(1944–1988). Prior to the marriage, Barbara had a son, Vaughn (born on December 24, 1934), from a previous relationship, whom Rev. Franklin adopted shortly after their marriage.
Barbara was a gifted pianist and, according to Mahalia Jackson
, one of the finest gospel singers in the country. Though her primary role was that of wife and mother, from the time of her marriage she actively participated in musical affairs of the various churches where C.L. served as pastor.
Marital trouble stemming from C. L.'s numerous and ongoing infidelities (including a daughter he fathered (named Carl Ellan Kelley (née Jennings)) by Mildred Jennings, a 13-year-old congregant in Memphis in 1940), caused Barbara to leave C. L. in 1948. She moved to Buffalo, New York (where her mother resided and where C.L. served as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church from May 1944 to June 1946), making a life for herself working in a music store, giving private music lessons, and training to be a nurse's aide. Barbara and C.L. never officially divorced.
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 back to Detroit, Michigan
to see her children, and during their summer vacation
s they traveled to Buffalo for stays with their mother.
Barbara Franklin died of a heart attack on March 7, 1952. She was 34 years old.
Shelby, Mississippi
Shelby is a city in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,926 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Shelby is located at ....
; died March 7, 1952 in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
) was the mother
Mother
A mother, mum, mom, momma, or mama is a woman who has raised a child, given birth to a child, and/or supplied the ovum that grew into a child. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to specify a universally...
of the legendary soul and gospel singer Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
and wife of C. L. Franklin
C. L. Franklin
Clarence LaVaughn Franklin , was an American Baptist minister, a civil rights activist, and father of the legendary soul and gospel singer Aretha Franklin.-Background:...
, the famous black Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
preacher. She married C.L. Franklin on June 3, 1936, and the marriage produced four children between 1938 and 1944: Erma
Erma Franklin
Erma Franklin was an American gospel and R&B singer. She was the oldest daughter of Barbara and the Reverend C. L. Franklin and the elder sister of Aretha Franklin...
(1938–2002), Cecil (1940–1989), Aretha
Aretha
Aretha is a female given name that is probably derived from the Greek arete, "virtue".The most prominent bearer of this name is Aretha Franklin....
(b. 1942), and Carolyn
Carolyn Franklin
Carolyn Ann Franklin was an American singer and songwriter and the baby sister of musician Aretha Franklin and daughter of prominent preacher C. L. Franklin.-Biography:...
(1944–1988). Prior to the marriage, Barbara had a son, Vaughn (born on December 24, 1934), from a previous relationship, whom Rev. Franklin adopted shortly after their marriage.
Barbara was a gifted pianist and, according to Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
, one of the finest gospel singers in the country. Though her primary role was that of wife and mother, from the time of her marriage she actively participated in musical affairs of the various churches where C.L. served as pastor.
Marital trouble stemming from C. L.'s numerous and ongoing infidelities (including a daughter he fathered (named Carl Ellan Kelley (née Jennings)) by Mildred Jennings, a 13-year-old congregant in Memphis in 1940), caused Barbara to leave C. L. in 1948. She moved to Buffalo, New York (where her mother resided and where C.L. served as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church from May 1944 to June 1946), making a life for herself working in a music store, giving private music lessons, and training to be a nurse's aide. Barbara and C.L. never officially divorced.
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
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, takes pains to discredit it. According to Salvatore, Barbara Franklin made visits back to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to see her children, and during their summer vacation
Summer vacation
Summer vacation is a vacation in the summertime between school years in which students and instructors are off school typically between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the country and district.-Students:In some countries, students participate in programs such as organized sports, summer camps, and...
s they traveled to Buffalo for stays with their mother.
Barbara Franklin died of a heart attack on March 7, 1952. She was 34 years old.