Carl Ellan Kelley was an American nurse who lived a quiet life away from public attention. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, she belonged to the well-known Franklin family and later lived in Detroit.
She became widely known because she was the daughter of Baptist minister and civil rights leader C. L. Franklin. She was also the half-sister of legendary singer Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul.
In this article, we explore Carl Ellan Kelley’s childhood, parents, nursing career, children, relationship with Aretha Franklin, family background, later years, death, and the legacy she left behind.
Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley?
Carl Ellan Kelley was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. She was the daughter of C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings and grew up under difficult family circumstances.
Carl spent much of her life outside the spotlight. Unlike some members of the Franklin family, she did not build an entertainment career and instead worked for many years as a nurse.
She was best known publicly as Aretha Franklin’s half-sister. However, Carl had her own family, career, and personal story before she died in Detroit on January 30, 2019.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Early Life
Carl Ellan Kelley was born in Memphis during the period when her father, C. L. Franklin, was serving as a pastor there. Her mother, Mildred Jennings, was only 12 years old.
C. L. Franklin was 25 at the time. The circumstances surrounding Carl’s birth were extremely difficult, and her early childhood was different from that of several of her paternal half-siblings.
Carl was largely raised by her grandmother. She spent much of her early life with limited contact with her father and the other children in the Franklin family.
Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley’s Father?
Carl’s father was Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, commonly known as C. L. Franklin. He became a prominent Baptist minister and civil rights activist and later served at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit.
C. L. Franklin eventually became a nationally recognized religious figure. His preaching career and involvement in the civil rights movement brought considerable attention to the Franklin family.
Carl did not experience the same upbringing as some of his other children. Her early years were largely spent apart from her father and her paternal half-siblings.
Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley’s Mother?
Carl Ellan Kelley’s mother was Mildred Jennings. She was a young member of C. L. Franklin’s congregation at New Salem Baptist Church in Memphis when Carl was born in 1940.
After Carl’s birth, Mildred was separated from her daughter. She was sent away to stay with relatives, while Carl was mainly raised by her grandmother.
Detailed information about Carl’s later relationship with Mildred was not discussed in interviews. Carl also remained very private about her childhood and rarely spoke publicly about her family history.
Siblings
Carl belonged to the wider Franklin family through her father. Her paternal half-siblings included Erma Franklin, Carolyn Franklin, Aretha Franklin, Rev. Cecil Franklin, and Vaughn Franklin.
Several members of the family became connected with music. Aretha became the most internationally famous sibling and eventually earned the title “Queen of Soul” through her celebrated musical career.
Erma Franklin was also a talented singer. She developed her own music career and remained known for her soulful voice before her death from throat cancer on September 7, 2002.
Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin
Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin were half-sisters because they shared the same father, C. L. Franklin. Their childhood experiences, however, followed very different paths.
Aretha grew up largely within her father’s Detroit household and became a world-famous singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Carl instead maintained a private lifestyle away from entertainment.
Although the sisters largely grew up apart, Aretha continued to recognize Carl as a member of her family. Their connection later became especially important during discussions surrounding Aretha’s estate.
Aretha Franklin’s $50,000 Bequest to Carl
Following Aretha Franklin’s death in 2018, handwritten wills were discovered inside her Detroit home. One of those documents included Carl Ellan Kelley as a beneficiary.
Aretha had named Carl for a $50,000 bequest. The decision provided an important glimpse into their family relationship despite the sisters having lived very different lives.
The inclusion showed that Carl remained part of Aretha’s family considerations. Their relationship may have stayed mostly outside public attention, but their family connection continued into adulthood.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Career as a Nurse
Carl chose a professional path far removed from the music industry that made some members of the Franklin family famous. She spent many years working as a nurse.
Nursing allowed Carl to establish an independent identity outside her famous family. She did not appear to seek celebrity status through her relationship with Aretha or her father.
Her professional life also reflected the private lifestyle she maintained for decades. Instead of entertainment headlines, Carl focused on her career, family, and everyday responsibilities.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Personal Life
Carl Ellan Kelley carefully protected her personal life. She rarely discussed her relationship with the Franklin family and remained largely outside the media throughout her adult years.
Her marital history was not discussed in detail in interviews. However, Carl had two children, named Charles G. Smith and Herman E. Wheatley III.
She spent much of her later life in Detroit, Michigan. Even with famous relatives, Carl continued living privately rather than becoming a regular figure in entertainment or celebrity circles.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Children
Carl Ellan Kelley was a mother of two children. Their names are Charles G. Smith and Herman E. Wheatley III.
Her role as a mother was an important part of the private family life she created. Unlike the highly public careers of some Franklin family members, Carl’s household remained mostly outside media attention.
Carl’s story therefore extends beyond simply being Aretha Franklin’s half-sister. She built her own family while maintaining a long career and staying away from the pressures of celebrity life.
Aretha Franklin’s Childhood
Aretha Franklin experienced major challenges during childhood as well. Her mother, Barbara, separated from C. L. Franklin, and Aretha lost her mother when she was only ten years old.
Aretha and her siblings were largely raised within their father’s Detroit household. Church and gospel music became important parts of her childhood and later strongly influenced her musical career.
Aretha became a mother at a very young age. Her first son, Clarence, was born when she was 12, while her second son, Edward, arrived when she was 14.
The Father of Aretha Franklin’s First Son
For many years, Donald Burke was believed to have been the father of Aretha Franklin’s eldest son, Clarence. Clarence was born in 1955 when Aretha was 12 years old.
One of Aretha’s handwritten wills identified Edward Jordan Sr. as Clarence’s biological father. This introduced a different account of Clarence’s paternity into the Franklin family story.
Edward Jordan Sr. was also identified as the father of Aretha’s second son, Edward. Her second child was born in 1957, two years after Clarence.
What Happened to C. L. Franklin?
C. L. Franklin experienced a devastating incident during his later life. On June 10, 1979, he was shot twice during what was believed to be an attempted robbery.
The shooting happened at his home on Detroit’s west side. He survived the initial attack but fell into a coma and never regained consciousness.
His children later arranged around-the-clock nursing care for him at home. C. L. Franklin remained unconscious for approximately five years before his death in 1984.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Later Years
Carl continued maintaining a private lifestyle as she grew older. She remained based in Detroit, where the Franklin family had deep personal, religious, and musical connections.
Her life differed greatly from Aretha’s public career. While Aretha performed around the world, Carl remained largely outside entertainment and focused on her own personal and professional life.
She also rarely spoke publicly about the unusual circumstances surrounding her childhood. This privacy continued throughout her life, keeping many parts of her personal story away from public discussion.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Death
Carl Ellan Kelley died on January 30, 2019, at the age of 78. She was found dead at her home in Detroit, Michigan.
Her death came only several months after Aretha Franklin died in August 2018. Carl had experienced heart problems before her death, and her cause of death was a heart attack.
Carl was laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. Her father and several other members of the Franklin family were also buried at the same cemetery.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Legacy
Carl Ellan Kelley lived very differently from the famous relatives surrounding her. She built a life centered on nursing and family instead of pursuing public recognition or an entertainment career.
Her childhood began under difficult circumstances, yet she later created a private adult life. She became a nurse, raised two children, and spent many years living in Detroit.
Her connection with Aretha also remains part of her story. Aretha’s decision to include Carl in a handwritten will demonstrated that the half-sisters maintained a meaningful family connection despite their different lives.
Final Thoughts
Carl Ellan Kelley is remembered as C. L. Franklin’s daughter and Aretha Franklin’s half-sister, but her story involved much more than her relationship with famous family members.
She spent many years working as a nurse and raising her children while remaining outside the public spotlight. Her quiet lifestyle stood in clear contrast to Aretha’s worldwide celebrity.
Carl died at age 78 in 2019. Her life remains an important part of the wider Franklin family story, connecting its complicated history with themes of family, privacy, work, and resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Carl Ellan Kelley?
Carl Ellan Kelley was an American nurse and the daughter of Baptist minister C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings. She was best known as the half-sister of singer Aretha Franklin.
Who was Carl Ellan Kelley’s mother?
Carl Ellan Kelley’s mother was Mildred Jennings. She was 12 years old and a member of C. L. Franklin’s congregation in Memphis when Carl was born in November 1940.
Was Carl Ellan Kelley Aretha Franklin’s sister?
Yes. Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin were paternal half-sisters. They shared the same father, C. L. Franklin, although they experienced very different childhoods and largely grew up apart.
Did Carl Ellan Kelley have children?
Yes. Carl Ellan Kelley had two children. Their names are Charles G. Smith and Herman E. Wheatley III. Carl kept most details about her personal and family life private.
What was Carl Ellan Kelley’s cause of death?
Carl Ellan Kelley died from a heart attack on January 30, 2019. She was 78 years old and was found at her home in Detroit, Michigan, several months after Aretha Franklin’s death.
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