Carl Ellan Kelley was an American woman best known as the older half-sister of legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin. Born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee, she was the daughter of Reverend C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings. Unlike her internationally famous sister, Carl lived most of her life away from public attention. Her story reveals a lesser-known part of the Franklin family’s history, including her unusual childhood, relationship with her father, children, and life before her death in 2019.
Quick Bio: Carl Ellan Kelley
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Carl Ellan Kelley |
| Also recorded as | Carol Ellan Kelley, Carl Ellan Franklin Kelly |
| Date of birth | November 17, 1940 |
| Birthplace | Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Date of death | January 30, 2019 |
| Age at death | 78 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Father | Reverend C. L. Franklin |
| Mother | Mildred Jennings |
| Raised by | Grandmother Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry |
| Famous half-sister | Aretha Franklin |
| Other half-siblings | Erma, Carolyn, Cecil Franklin and others |
| Children | Vivian Smith, Herman E. Wheatley III, Charles G. Smith |
| Reported profession | Nurse; employment history not fully verified |
| Marital status | Not reliably documented |
| Net worth | Not publicly verified |
| Funeral location | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Planned burial location | Evergreen Washelli Cemetery, Seattle |
Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley?
Carl Ellan Kelley belonged to one of America’s most influential musical families.
Her father was Reverend Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, a famous Baptist minister whose preaching helped shape the religious and musical environment in which Aretha Franklin grew up.
Her half-sister Aretha later became known around the world as the Queen of Soul.
However, Carl’s life followed a very different direction.
While Aretha performed before large audiences, recorded successful albums, and won major awards, Carl remained mostly outside the entertainment industry.
She did not become a famous singer or public personality.
Instead, she built a personal life that included children, grandchildren, and other family relationships.
Her name appeared more frequently in public discussions after people began researching the Franklin family’s complicated history.
Carl’s childhood was particularly different from that of Aretha and several of their siblings.
She was raised by her grandmother rather than growing up in the household that became closely associated with gospel music and Reverend Franklin’s ministry.
This separation shaped the available historical account of her early years.
Although some details remain private, her obituary and family records provide important facts about her life.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Early Life
Carl Ellan Kelley was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee.
At the time, her father, Reverend C. L. Franklin, was working as a pastor at New Salem Baptist Church.
Her mother, Mildred Jennings, was a young member of the congregation.
The circumstances surrounding Carl’s birth were deeply troubling.
Historical accounts, including research based on Reverend Franklin’s biography, state that Mildred was only 12 years old when she gave birth.
C. L. Franklin was approximately 25 years old.
This was a serious situation involving an adult man and a child, and it should not be described as an ordinary romantic relationship.
Carl herself had no responsibility for the circumstances of her birth.
She was a child born into a complicated family situation, and much of her early life developed separately from her father’s household.
Who Raised Carl Ellan Kelley?
Carl was raised by her grandmother, identified in her obituary as Mrs. Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry.
Her grandmother played a central role in her upbringing.
Rather than growing up alongside Aretha and the other Franklin children in their father’s household, Carl spent her early years in Memphis.
This arrangement meant that her experience of family life differed significantly from that of her famous siblings.
The Franklin household later became closely connected with church music, gospel performers, and civil rights figures.
Carl’s everyday childhood, however, was primarily connected to the relatives who raised her.
Reliable information about her schooling, childhood friendships, and early interests is limited.
Nevertheless, her grandmother’s role is clearly recorded in her funeral-home obituary.
Who Were Carl Ellan Kelley’s Parents?
Carl Ellan Kelley’s parents were Reverend C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings.
Their backgrounds are essential to understanding her story.
Her Father: Reverend C. L. Franklin
Reverend Clarence LaVaughn Franklin was born on January 22, 1915, in Mississippi.
He became one of the most prominent African-American Baptist ministers of the twentieth century.
His powerful sermons earned him the nickname the Million-Dollar Voice.
During his career, he preached to large congregations and became an influential figure in religious communities.
He eventually became pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan.
His church attracted important gospel singers, religious leaders, and civil rights activists.
Reverend Franklin also supported the civil rights movement.
He helped organize the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom, an event attended by Martin Luther King Jr.
Although he achieved enormous public respect as a preacher, his private life included serious controversies.
The circumstances surrounding Mildred Jennings and Carl’s birth are among the most troubling parts of his personal history.
Reverend Franklin died on July 27, 1984, following years of serious health difficulties after he was shot in 1979.
Her Mother: Mildred Jennings
Mildred Jennings was Carl Ellan Kelley’s biological mother.
She was connected to the church where Reverend Franklin served in Memphis.
Historical accounts identify her as only 12 years old when Carl was born.
This detail has attracted attention from researchers examining Reverend Franklin’s personal history.
However, very little reliable information is available about Mildred’s later life.
Her education, career, relationships, and death date have not been widely documented.
Carl’s obituary confirms Mildred as her mother but provides no detailed account of the relationship between them.
It is important to avoid inventing stories about Mildred’s personal experiences.
The available evidence establishes her identity and the circumstances surrounding Carl’s birth, but not a complete biography of her life.
Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin’s Relationship
One of the main reasons people search for Carl Ellan Kelley is her connection to Aretha Franklin.
The two women shared the same father, C. L. Franklin, but had different mothers.
This made them paternal half-sisters.
Carl was born in November 1940.
Aretha was born on March 25, 1942.
Carl was therefore approximately 16 months older than Aretha.
Despite being close in age, the two sisters did not grow up together in the same household.
Did Carl Know Aretha Franklin?
Published accounts suggest that Carl later established contact with her father and became connected with members of the Franklin family.
Some reports say she contacted Reverend Franklin when she was approximately 17 years old.
However, reliable public information about the everyday relationship between Carl and Aretha is limited.
They were part of the same extended family, but the details of their conversations, visits, and emotional closeness have not been fully documented.
It would be misleading to claim that they were extremely close or completely estranged without stronger evidence.
What is known is that Carl was recognized as a member of the Franklin family.
Her obituary specifically identified Aretha among the siblings who died before her.
Who Was Aretha Franklin?
Aretha Franklin was one of the most celebrated singers in American music history.
Born in Memphis in 1942, she grew up surrounded by gospel music.
Her father was a respected preacher, and their Detroit home welcomed important musical and religious figures.
Aretha began singing in church while she was young.
She eventually moved from gospel into commercial recording and became internationally famous.
Her best-known songs include Respect, Think, Chain of Fools, and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.
Her extraordinary voice, emotional expression, and musical skill made her one of the defining artists of soul music.
She won 18 Grammy Awards and became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Aretha died on August 16, 2018, at age 76.
Her death occurred less than six months before Carl Ellan Kelley passed away.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Other Siblings
The Franklin family included several children who became involved in music and religious life.
Carl had multiple half-siblings through her father.
Some became famous, while others lived less public lives.
Erma Franklin
Erma Franklin was born on March 13, 1938.
She was a talented soul and gospel singer.
One of her best-known recordings was the original version of Piece of My Heart, which later became widely recognized through Janis Joplin’s performance.
Erma also worked as a background vocalist and supported her sister Aretha’s musical career.
She died on September 7, 2002.
Carolyn Franklin
Carolyn Franklin was born on May 13, 1944.
Like Aretha and Erma, she developed a career in music.
She worked as a singer and songwriter and contributed to several recordings associated with her famous sister.
Carolyn died on April 25, 1988.
Reverend Cecil Franklin
Cecil Franklin was another member of the family.
He followed a path connected to ministry and also became involved in Aretha’s professional affairs.
He served as her manager during part of her career.
Cecil died on December 26, 1989.
Vaughn Franklin
Vaughn was the son of Barbara Siggers from a previous relationship.
He was raised within the Franklin family after C. L. Franklin married Barbara.
Although he was not Carl’s biological half-brother through C. L. Franklin, he belonged to the wider family.
Other Family Members
Carl’s obituary also mentioned Clark E. Turner and Charles E. Jennings among her siblings.
Their personal histories are not widely documented in major entertainment biographies.
These additional names demonstrate that the Franklin family was larger and more complicated than the group of relatives most frequently discussed in articles about Aretha.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Career and Professional Life
Unlike her famous relatives, Carl Ellan Kelley did not develop a widely documented entertainment career.
Some published biographies describe her as a nurse who worked in Detroit, Michigan.
Other accounts suggest that she had employment connections outside healthcare.
However, her official obituary does not provide a complete professional history.
For that reason, her occupation as a nurse is best described as reported rather than independently verified.
Did Carl Ellan Kelley Work in Music?
There is no reliable evidence that Carl worked professionally as a singer, songwriter, or recording artist.
This makes her different from Aretha, Erma, and Carolyn Franklin, all of whom developed musical careers.
Carl’s decision to remain outside the public entertainment world meant that fewer details about her professional activities appeared in newspapers and magazines.
Her family relationships are better documented than her employment history.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Marriage and Personal Life
One of the most frequently asked questions about Carl Ellan Kelley concerns her husband.
Her surname indicates that she used the name Kelley or Kelly during her lifetime.
However, reliable public records do not clearly establish her complete marriage history.
Some online biographies make claims about her husband or romantic relationships without providing sufficient evidence.
It would be inaccurate to repeat those claims as confirmed facts.
What is clear is that Carl became a mother and later a grandmother.
Her funeral-home obituary provides the strongest public information about this part of her life.
Did Carl Ellan Kelley Have Children?
Yes. Carl Ellan Kelley had three children identified in her obituary.
They were Vivian Smith, Herman E. Wheatley III, and Charles G. Smith.
Her daughter Vivian died before Carl.
Her two sons were among the surviving family members identified when she passed away in 2019.
Herman E. Wheatley III
Herman E. Wheatley III was one of Carl’s sons.
He was identified in her obituary as a surviving child.
His personal life and professional background have not been extensively documented in major public sources.
Charles G. Smith
Charles G. Smith was another of Carl’s sons.
Like his brother, he remained largely outside entertainment publicity.
His connection to the Franklin family is documented through his mother’s obituary.
Vivian Smith
Vivian Smith was Carl’s daughter.
Her mother’s obituary identified Vivian as having died before her.
However, it did not provide details about Vivian’s age, career, or cause of death.
These are personal family matters that should not be filled with speculation.
Her Grandchildren
Carl also had seven grandchildren identified in her obituary: Alyssa, Rayden, Amaria, Herman IV, Justin, Tevin, and Detric.
The obituary also named a great-grandchild, Ariya.
These details reveal another important side of Carl’s life.
Although she did not become a celebrity, she belonged to a family that continued through several generations.
Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin’s Will
Carl’s connection to Aretha Franklin attracted renewed attention after the singer died in August 2018.
Following Aretha’s death, several handwritten documents believed to be wills were discovered in her home.
The documents became part of a legal dispute over her estate.
Some secondary accounts report that Carl Ellan Kelley was named in one of these documents and was intended to receive $50,000.
However, the specific amount and whether any payment was made to Carl have not been independently confirmed through the primary estate records reviewed here.
Why Did Aretha Franklin’s Estate Become a Legal Issue?
Aretha Franklin left behind a substantial musical legacy and valuable assets.
Questions arose over which handwritten document should control the distribution of her estate.
The legal dispute involved her surviving sons and different versions of her reported wishes.
In July 2023, a Michigan jury determined that a handwritten document dated 2014 was a valid will.
By that time, both Aretha and Carl had died.
The reported reference to Carl in Aretha’s estate documents has interested researchers because it suggests a continuing family connection.
However, it should not be used to make unsupported claims about the personal closeness of the sisters.
When Did Carl Ellan Kelley Die?
Carl Ellan Kelley died on January 30, 2019.
She was 78 years old.
Her funeral-home obituary confirms her birth and death dates.
Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery
Her passing came less than six months after the death of her famous half-sister, Aretha Franklin.
What Was Carl Ellan Kelley’s Cause of Death?
Some online biographies claim that Carl died from a heart attack.
However, her official funeral-home obituary does not identify a cause of death.
Therefore, a heart attack should not be presented as a confirmed medical fact.
The verified information establishes that Carl died on January 30, 2019, at age 78.
Where Was Carl Ellan Kelley Buried?
Carl’s funeral arrangements were handled by Memorial Park Funeral Home in Memphis, Tennessee.
Her visitation took place on February 5, 2019.
Her funeral service followed on February 6.
The funeral notice stated that she would later be laid to rest at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.
Some websites list different burial locations, including Detroit.
However, the Memphis funeral-home record specifically identifies Evergreen Washelli as her planned burial location.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Net Worth
There is no reliable public record establishing Carl Ellan Kelley’s net worth.
She did not maintain a high-profile career in entertainment, and her financial information was not widely reported.
Some websites publish estimated figures without explaining how they were calculated.
These estimates should not be treated as verified facts.
The reported inheritance provision in Aretha Franklin’s estate documents also does not establish Carl’s personal wealth.
Without reliable records of her earnings, property, savings, and other assets, her exact net worth cannot be determined.
Why Is Carl Ellan Kelley’s Story Important?
Carl Ellan Kelley’s life offers a different perspective on the Franklin family.
Most people know the family through Aretha Franklin’s extraordinary musical career.
They may also recognize Reverend C. L. Franklin for his powerful preaching and civil rights involvement.
However, the family’s history includes people who did not become famous.
Carl was one of those individuals.
Her childhood also highlights difficult questions about the behavior of influential religious leaders.
The circumstances involving Reverend Franklin and Mildred Jennings should be recognized as a serious abuse of power involving a child.
At the same time, Carl’s identity should not be reduced to those circumstances.
She went on to become a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Her life included family connections and experiences that existed beyond her father’s public reputation.
Interesting Facts About Carl Ellan Kelley
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Carl was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Her father was famous Baptist minister Reverend C. L. Franklin.
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Her biological mother was Mildred Jennings.
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She was raised by her grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry.
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She was approximately 16 months older than Aretha Franklin.
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Her half-siblings included Aretha, Erma, Carolyn, and Cecil Franklin.
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Some accounts describe her as a nurse, although her complete employment history is not verified.
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She had three children and seven grandchildren named in her obituary.
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She died on January 30, 2019, at age 78.
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Her funeral arrangements identified Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle as her planned burial place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Carl Ellan Kelley?
Carl Ellan Kelley was an American woman known as the paternal half-sister of legendary singer Aretha Franklin.
Was Carl Ellan Kelley Aretha Franklin’s biological sister?
Yes. They were biological half-sisters because they shared the same father, Reverend C. L. Franklin, but had different mothers.
When was Carl Ellan Kelley born?
She was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Who was Carl Ellan Kelley’s mother?
Her mother was Mildred Jennings, who was a young member of Reverend Franklin’s congregation in Memphis.
Who raised Carl Ellan Kelley?
Her grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry, raised her.
Was Carl Ellan Kelley older than Aretha Franklin?
Yes. Carl was born in November 1940, while Aretha was born in March 1942.
Did Carl Ellan Kelley have a husband?
Her complete marriage history has not been reliably documented in widely available public records.
How many children did Carl Ellan Kelley have?
Her obituary identifies three children: Vivian Smith, Herman E. Wheatley III, and Charles G. Smith.
Was Carl Ellan Kelley a nurse?
Several secondary biographies describe her as a nurse, but her occupation is not fully verified through the strongest available public records.
When did Carl Ellan Kelley pass away?
She died on January 30, 2019.
How old was Carl Ellan Kelley when she died?
She was 78 years old.
What caused Carl Ellan Kelley’s death?
Her official obituary does not identify a cause of death. Online claims about a heart attack remain unconfirmed.
Where was Carl Ellan Kelley buried?
Her funeral-home obituary stated that she would be laid to rest at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.
What was Carl Ellan Kelley’s net worth?
Her net worth was never reliably made public.
Final Thoughts
Carl Ellan Kelley was part of one of the most influential families in American music history, yet her own life remained largely outside the spotlight.
Born in Memphis in 1940, she was the daughter of Reverend C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings.
She grew up under the care of her grandmother, separately from many of the relatives who later became famous.
Her relationship with the Franklin family connected her to Aretha Franklin, one of the greatest singers of all time.
However, Carl’s personal story was not about fame or musical success.
It was about family, complicated beginnings, and the quieter experiences of someone whose name became connected to a much larger cultural history.
Her obituary recorded three children, seven grandchildren, and a great-grandchild, showing the family she left behind.
Carl Ellan Kelley died on January 30, 2019, at age 78.
Although some details about her personal and professional life remain unknown, her place in the Franklin family is clearly documented.
Her story reminds readers that behind famous names are many individual lives, each with experiences that deserve to be understood accurately and respectfully.
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