Thread: Aretha's Funeral Service

It was scheduled for 10am - 3pm but it ran long and is just finishing up now. Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder were among the last singers and they were both uplifting and amazing. Unfortunately some tried to turn her tribute into a political event with anti-Trump sentiments and of course Jesse Jackson kept making bee lines to whatever camera he thought was on...seriously, any potential photo opt and he was there.


Family, lifelong friends and even a US President ensure Aretha Franklin's funeral is fit for a queen

Detroit (CNN)Family, friends and the many admirers of Aretha Franklin packed Detroit's Greater Grace Temple on Friday to celebrate the life, legacy and music of the "Queen of Soul."

It was a service fit for the Queen, who died earlier this month at the age of 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

The funeral was full of mourning and laughter, of rousing gospel music and soulful hymns befitting of the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, who won 18 Grammys and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, among many other honors.

Singers like Ariana Grande, Faith Hill, the Clark Sisters, Chaka Khan, Fantasia Barrino-Taylor, Jennifer Hudson and Stevie Wonder rallied funeralgoers and brought them to their feet to dance and sing with Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "I'm Going Up Yonder," "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," and "Amazing Grace," to name a few.

Spoken tributes and remembrances from religious and political leaders also underlined the influence of a woman who stood on the front lines of the civil rights movement, with her music as a frequent anthem.

Former President Bill Clinton, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson and former US Attorney General Eric Holder were among those who came to pay their respects and offer kind words and remembrances.

It was a star-studded occasion, but it wasn't about who was or wasn't famous. They had all come together to say their last goodbyes to a woman and an artist who profoundly impacted each of them, the city of Detroit and the world...

https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/31/enter...ral/index.html

Well really Krys, given who she was in this city, her friends were (political as well as in show business) I didn't expect any different...what (I think) made some folks mad is when Al Sharpton stated Aretha didn't "work for Trump" she entertained at his establishments. She worked for "us" (her people and community). I didn't know she raised money and support for Dr. MLK when he couldn't pay his staff. A lot of things she did were not publicized. ..I heard she was a very private person.

Why is she wearing such a short skirt, looks disrespectful - Muslim Al and Bill Clinton don't seem to mind

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

Why is she wearing such a short skirt, looks disrespectful - Muslim Al and Bill Clinton don't seem to mind

It was a tad short, to be sure. Who is "Muslim Al"? You mean Farrakaan? I was surprised he didn't speak.

Originally Posted by FaithfulOne

It was a tad short, to be sure. Who is "Muslim Al"? You mean Farrakaan? I was surprised he didn't speak.

oops Louis Farrakhan, he has notes so maybe he was scheduled


Why no woman on the platform?

I watched most of the service, between being at home at at work...if ya'll are not familiar with who did the eulogy, Rev. Jasper Williams--be sure to look up his message when someone posts it on YouTube..I was surprised he preached a "conservative" message--about how Black folks have 'lost their soul', black on black crime, the breakdown of the Black family..and tied it in with the trials of how Aretha was raised--her dad was divorced and had to raise his children essentially by himself (I'm sure aunts and other relatives helped) and how he stood with her in terms of her career..that he (C.L Franklin) was not a 'perfect person' himself (TT referred to that somewhat in my thread a couple of weeks ago) and how that had to have affected her growing up.

If I find it, I'll post it here.

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

oops Louis Farrakhan, he has notes so maybe he was scheduled


Why no woman on the platform?

There was...one I saw that I never heard of nor recognized...she may be from either the host church or from Aretha's.

I watched a lot of it. It was almost 9 hours

They really should have had “A night to remember “ earlier in the week and let a lot of these speakers talk then. It wasn’t fair in my opinion to a lot of the people scheduled on the program to have wait 6,7,8 hours for their turn. Then again, it’s all in hindsight

Originally Posted by FaithfulOne

I watched most of the service, between being at home at at work...if ya'll are not familiar with who did the eulogy, Rev. Jasper Williams--be sure to look up his message when someone posts it on YouTube..I was surprised he preached a "conservative" message--about how Black folks have 'lost their soul', black on black crime, the breakdown of the Black family..and tied it in with the trials of how Aretha was raised--her dad was divorced and had to raise his children essentially by himself (I'm sure aunts and other relatives helped) and how he stood with her in terms of her career..that he (C.L Franklin) was not a 'perfect person' himself (TT referred to that somewhat in my thread a couple of weeks ago) and how that had to have affected her growing up.

If I find it, I'll post it here.

He ripped into them. I was sort of shocked

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

Why is she wearing such a short skirt, looks disrespectful - Muslim Al and Bill Clinton don't seem to mind

The girl is obviously clueless when it come to proper church decorum and protocol. She was also disrespectful to Aretha’s memory by drawing attention to herself. Aretha always respected the house of God when I came to her attire.

Also, if that was under the Late Bishop David Ellis’ watch, he would have sent her home to change or put on a robe lol. Believe me I know about old school lol


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