Aretha Franklin fans line up around the block to honor Queen of Soul at public viewing
Aretha Franklin fans devotedly show up in the hundreds for the Queen of Soul’s public visitation following her August 16 death.
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was mourned around the world when news broke of her death from pancreatic cancer on August 16. The legendary songstress was 76. Now her fans have the opportunity to pay tribute in person during the two days of open-casket visitations.
Hundreds honor Aretha Franklin
Fans who learned about the two-day public open-casket visitations for Aretha flocked to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, which hosted the event. Before the viewings began on Tuesday, some fans headed to the sidewalk to guarantee they would be admitted, reported Entertainment Weekly.
The number of Franklin’s fans estimated on Tuesday were in the hundreds. They watched as the gold-plated casket containing Aretha’s body drove up in a white 1940 Cadillac LaSalle hearse. It is the same hearse that bore the bodies of Franklin’s father Rev. C.L. Franklin in 1984, singer David Ruffin in 1991, and Rosa Parks in 2005.
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 29: Fans sign posters of Aretha Franklin created by artist Mark Gaines outside of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History where the Queen of Soul lies in repose on August 29, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin’s funeral will be held Friday at Greater Grace Temple. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 29: Fans of Aretha Franklin attend a viewing for the soul music legend at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History on August 29, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin’s funeral will be held Friday at Greater Grace Temple. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 29: A vendor sells tee-shirts ourtside of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History where a viewing for Aretha Franklin was being held on August 29, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin’s funeral will be held Friday at Greater Grace Temple. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 28: Fans of Aretha Franklin attend a viewing for the soul music legend at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History on August 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Franklin will lie in repose at the museum today and tomorrow for the public to pay their respects. Franklin’s funeral will be held Friday at Greater Grace Temple. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Aretha Franklin arrayed in style befitting a queen
Aretha wore a red suit trimmed with lace and brightly colored satin pumps in her gold-plated casket. The casket’s lining contained the words “Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul,” embroidered in gold thread.
Franklin’s funeral will be held on Friday. The occasion will be on television as well as streamed online. Celebrities scheduled to speak at the funeral include former president Bill Clinton, Smokey Robinson, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Cicely Tyson, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and Clive Davis. Among those performing during the service are Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Faith Hill, and Chaka Khan.
Fans speak out about visiting Queen Of Soul
“I got chills,” Pat Turner told the Detroit Free Press. Turner was present when the hearse arrived early Tuesday morning bearing Franklin’s body residing in her gold-plated casket.
Turner didn’t mind the wait until the visitations for Aretha began at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, calling it the “chance of a lifetime” and “just beautiful.”
Charlotte Smith felt her experience paying tribute to Franklin was ” very moving.” She complimented Franklin’s “beautiful smile,” adding that the Queen of Soul “looks serene resting as a true queen.”
The open casket public visitations took place Tuesday and are scheduled again 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the museum. George Hamilton, interim director of the Charles H. Wright Museum, reflected on the honor of hosting Aretha.
Related Story. Lena Waithe reveals the meaningful reason why she cut her hair. light
“Aretha was an international treasure, but she also was a Detroit treasure,” pointed out Hamilton. “We are her family and the family has come together to present her to her fans in a regal way.”