Carl Ellan Kelley was the older paternal half-sister of singer Aretha Franklin. She was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Baptist minister C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings. She was raised mainly by her grandmother and later became connected with the Franklin family.
Unlike Aretha and some of her other half-siblings, Carl lived mostly outside the public eye. She reportedly worked as a nurse and had a family of her own. She died on January 30, 2019, at age 78.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Carl Ellan Kelley |
| Also listed as | Carl Ellan Franklin Kelly |
| Date of birth | November 17, 1940 |
| Birthplace | Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Father | Rev. C. L. Franklin |
| Mother | Mildred Jennings |
| Raised by | Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry, her grandmother |
| Famous half-sister | Aretha Franklin |
| Other half-siblings | Erma Franklin, Carolyn Franklin, Cecil Franklin and others |
| Profession | Nurse, according to published reports |
| Children | Herman E. Wheatley III, Charles G. Smith and Vivian Smith |
| Date of death | January 30, 2019 |
| Age at death | 78 |
| Known for | Being Aretha Franklin’s older paternal half-sister |
Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley?
Carl Ellan Kelley was a member of the Franklin family but did not have a public career like several of her relatives.
Her father, C. L. Franklin, became a nationally known Baptist minister and civil rights figure. Her half-sister Aretha Franklin became one of the world’s most famous singers.
Carl spent much of her life away from the media. Public information about her comes mainly from family histories, funeral records, and her connection to the Franklin family.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Early Life
Carl was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 17, 1940.
She did not grow up in the same household as Aretha Franklin and her other well-known half-siblings. Records and published family accounts say she was raised mainly by her grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry.
Little reliable information is available about Carl’s childhood education or schools.
Who Were Carl Ellan Kelley’s Parents?
Carl’s parents were Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, better known as C. L. Franklin, and Mildred Jennings.
The circumstances surrounding her birth are an important but difficult part of her family history. Published accounts state that Mildred was only 12 years old when Carl was born. C. L. Franklin was an adult minister in his twenties.
Because Mildred was a child, the circumstances cannot properly be described as an equal or consensual adult relationship.
Mildred was reportedly part of the congregation at New Salem Baptist Church in Memphis, where Franklin served as pastor.
Who Was Mildred Jennings?
Mildred Jennings was Carl Ellan Kelley’s mother. Much less is publicly known about her than about C. L. Franklin.
Published accounts say Mildred and Carl were separated after Carl’s birth, with Carl being raised by her grandmother.
Some reports say Mildred was sent to live with relatives. Details about her later relationship with Carl are not well documented.
Mildred reportedly died before her daughter.
Who Was C. L. Franklin?
Carl’s father, C. L. Franklin, was an American Baptist minister. He later became pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan.
He became nationally known for his preaching and was also involved in the civil rights movement.
C. L. Franklin was the father of several children, including Aretha, Erma, Carolyn, and Cecil Franklin.
In June 1979, Franklin was shot during an incident at his Detroit home. He remained in a coma for years and died in 1984.
Carl Contacted Her Father as a Teenager
Carl did not have a close relationship with her father during her early childhood.
According to published accounts based on Franklin family history, Carl knew C. L. Franklin was her father. When she was around 17 years old, she decided to contact him.
She reportedly spoke to a Memphis minister who knew Franklin and then wrote her father a letter.
Franklin did not immediately contact Carl directly. Reports say the minister encouraged him to acknowledge her.
Carl later traveled to Detroit, where her father accepted her as his daughter and she began meeting members of the Franklin family.
Her Relationship With C. L. Franklin
The relationship between Carl and her father reportedly developed gradually.
Published accounts say she made several visits to Detroit. When she later lived in New Orleans, she was sometimes present with Franklin during his church appearances.
Reports also indicate that they remained in contact after Carl moved to Seattle.
There are few direct interviews from Carl about their relationship, so many personal details remain private.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Siblings
Carl had several half-siblings through her father.
Her best-known half-siblings included Aretha Franklin, Erma Franklin, Carolyn Franklin, and Rev. Cecil Franklin.
Some family and obituary records also mention other siblings, including Clark E. Turner and Charles E. Jennings. Published sources do not always give the same complete list of Carl’s siblings.
Several members of the Franklin family became involved in music or ministry.
Erma Franklin was a gospel and soul singer known for recording the original version of Piece of My Heart. Carolyn Franklin was a singer and songwriter who also wrote songs for Aretha. Cecil Franklin became a minister.
How Was Carl Ellan Kelley Related to Aretha Franklin?
Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin were paternal half-sisters. They had the same father, C. L. Franklin, but different mothers.
Carl was born in November 1940, while Aretha was born on March 25, 1942, making Carl the older sister.
They did not grow up together. Carl was raised mainly by her grandmother, while Aretha spent much of her childhood in her father’s household.
Their adult lives were also very different. Aretha became an international music star, while Carl remained largely private.
Who Was Aretha Franklin?
Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and one of the most important figures in soul music.
Known as the Queen of Soul, she became famous for songs including Respect, Think, Chain of Fools, and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
Aretha won 18 Grammy Awards during her career. In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
She died on August 16, 2018, at age 76.
Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin’s Relationship
There is limited public information about how close Carl and Aretha were in everyday life.
However, family records show that Aretha recognized Carl as her sister. Carl’s obituary also identified Aretha as a sibling.
An important detail about their relationship later appeared in one of Aretha’s handwritten wills.
Aretha Franklin Left Money to Carl in Her Will
One of Aretha Franklin’s handwritten wills reportedly provided $50,000 for Carl Ellan Kelley.
The document was dated 2014 and was one of several handwritten wills discovered at Aretha’s home after her death.
A legal dispute later developed between Aretha’s sons over which handwritten document should control her estate. In 2023, a jury ruled that the 2014 document was her valid will.
The inclusion of Carl in the document provides evidence that Aretha continued to recognize her older half-sister as part of her family.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Career
Published reports describe Carl Ellan Kelley as a nurse who worked for many years.
However, detailed records of her professional life are limited. The available sources do not reliably identify her nursing school, medical institution, employer, or specialty.
There is no evidence that Carl pursued a professional music career like Aretha, Erma, and Carolyn.
Was Carl Ellan Kelley Married?
Reliable information about Carl Ellan Kelley’s marriage or romantic relationships is not publicly available.
It is therefore unclear whether she ever married. A husband should not be assumed from her surname or the surnames of her children.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Children
Carl had a family of her own.
An obituary-based account names three children: Herman E. Wheatley III, Charles G. Smith, and Vivian Smith.
Vivian reportedly died before her mother.
Another secondary source lists only Herman and Charles, leaving Vivian out. The obituary-based account provides the more complete three-child list.
Her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchild
Carl’s obituary is reported to have named seven grandchildren: Alyssa, Rayden, Amaria, Herman IV, Justin, Tevin, and Detric.
It also reportedly listed a great-grandchild named Ariya.
Carl’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild show that she had her own large family outside her connection to the famous Franklin family.
Where Did Carl Ellan Kelley Live?
Carl was born in Memphis and later lived in several places.
Published family accounts connect her with New Orleans and Seattle at different points in her life. Other reports say she was living in Detroit, Michigan, near the end of her life.
A complete timeline of her residences has not been publicly documented.
When Did Carl Ellan Kelley Die?
Carl Ellan Kelley died on January 30, 2019. She was 78 years old.
Her death came about five months after Aretha Franklin died in August 2018.
One published report says Carl died at her home in Detroit after suffering a heart attack. It also claims she had experienced heart problems before her death. These details are not confirmed by all available sources.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Funeral and Burial
Published funeral information says Carl’s visitation took place on February 5, 2019, followed by her funeral on February 6 in Memphis.
Reports about her final burial place conflict.
One source says she was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, where members of the Franklin family are buried. Another account citing her funeral notice says she was expected to be laid to rest at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle.
Because these reports conflict, her final burial location should not be stated as certain without a confirmed cemetery record.
What Was Carl Ellan Kelley’s Net Worth?
Carl Ellan Kelley’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
There is not enough public financial information about her income, property, or other assets to provide a trustworthy estimate.
Was Carl Ellan Kelley on Social Media?
There are no widely known verified social media accounts belonging to Carl Ellan Kelley.
She lived most of her life outside the public spotlight and gave few, if any, widely documented media interviews.
Facts About Carl Ellan Kelley
- Carl Ellan Kelley was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Her parents were C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings.
- She was raised mainly by her grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry.
- She contacted her father when she was around 17 years old, according to published family accounts.
- Carl was the older paternal half-sister of Aretha Franklin.
- Her other half-siblings included Erma, Carolyn, and Cecil Franklin.
- She reportedly worked as a nurse.
- Obituary-based records name Herman E. Wheatley III, Charles G. Smith, and Vivian Smith as her children.
- Aretha Franklin reportedly left Carl $50,000 in her 2014 handwritten will.
- Carl died on January 30, 2019, at age 78.
- Her personal net worth is not reliably known.
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