Carl Ellan Kelley was a member of one of America’s most famous musical families, yet she lived largely outside the spotlight. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1940, she was the daughter of Baptist minister C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings. This made her a paternal half-sister of Aretha Franklin, the legendary Queen of Soul. Unlike Aretha, Carl did not build a public career in music or entertainment. She lived a much more private life and became a mother and grandmother. Carl died in January 2019, only months after Aretha’s death, leaving behind a family story that remained largely unknown to the wider public.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Personal Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carl Ellan Kelley |
| Date of Birth | November 17, 1940 |
| Place of Birth | Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Half-sister of Aretha Franklin |
| Father | C. L. Franklin |
| Mother | Mildred Jennings |
| Raised By | Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry, her grandmother |
| Half-Siblings | Aretha, Erma, Carolyn, Cecil Franklin and others |
| Reported Occupation | Nurse, though detailed career records are limited |
| Children | Vivian Smith, Herman E. Wheatley III, Charles G. Smith |
| Grandchildren | Seven, according to her obituary |
| Great-Grandchildren | One, according to her obituary |
| Date of Death | January 30, 2019 |
| Age at Death | 78 |
| Cause of Death | Not confirmed in her funeral-home obituary |
| Burial Place | Evergreen Washelli Cemetery, Seattle, Washington |
| Public Profile | Largely private |
Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley?
Carl Ellan Kelley was the daughter of Rev. Clarence LaVaughn “C. L.” Franklin and Mildred Jennings. She is best known publicly as the paternal half-sister of Aretha Franklin. Carl was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee, and died on January 30, 2019, at age 78. Her life was very different from that of her famous half-sister. Aretha became an international music star, while Carl remained mostly outside entertainment and celebrity culture. Her obituary shows that she built a large family of her own, including children, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild, while maintaining a comparatively private public profile.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Quick Biography
Carl Ellan Kelley was born in Memphis on November 17, 1940. Her parents were Mildred Jennings and C. L. Franklin, who later became a nationally known Baptist preacher and civil rights figure. Carl was raised largely by her maternal grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry. Through her father, she belonged to the wider Franklin family that included Aretha, Erma, Carolyn, and Cecil Franklin. Her obituary identifies three children: Vivian Smith, who died before Carl, and surviving sons Herman E. Wheatley III and Charles G. Smith. Carl died at age 78 on January 30, 2019. Much of her adult life remained private.
Early Life and Childhood
Carl Ellan Kelley’s childhood began under difficult family circumstances. She was born in Memphis while her father, C. L. Franklin, was serving as a Baptist minister in the city. Unlike some of her paternal half-siblings, Carl did not grow up primarily in Franklin’s household. Her funeral-home obituary says she was raised by her grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry. This detail helps explain why her early experiences were different from those of Aretha and several other Franklin children. Reliable information about Carl’s schooling, childhood interests, and everyday home life is limited. Her early biography is therefore best understood through the family relationships that are clearly documented.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Parents
Carl Ellan Kelley’s parents were Mildred Jennings and C. L. Franklin. Their circumstances were highly unequal and deeply troubling. Biographical accounts of C. L. Franklin identify Mildred as a 12-year-old member of his congregation when Carl was conceived, while Franklin was an adult minister. Carl was born in November 1940. The available record does not provide a detailed account of a continuing relationship between Mildred and Franklin. Carl was instead raised by her maternal grandmother. These circumstances are an important part of her history, but they should be described carefully. Carl herself was not responsible for the circumstances surrounding her birth or her parents’ actions.
Her Father, C. L. Franklin
C. L. Franklin was a prominent Baptist minister whose preaching brought him national recognition. Born in Mississippi in 1915, he eventually became pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. His recorded sermons and powerful speaking style made him one of the best-known Black preachers of his era. He was also connected to the civil rights movement and worked alongside major figures, including Martin Luther King Jr. Carl was one of Franklin’s children, although she did not share the same upbringing as several of her paternal half-siblings. Franklin was shot at his Detroit home in 1979, remained in a coma, and died in 1984.
Her Mother, Mildred Jennings
Mildred Jennings was Carl Ellan Kelley’s mother. Much less is publicly known about Mildred than about C. L. Franklin. Historical accounts identify her as a very young member of Franklin’s Memphis congregation when Carl was conceived. She was reportedly 12 years old, while Franklin was an adult pastor. Beyond these disturbing circumstances, reliable information about Mildred’s later life is limited. Carl’s obituary confirms Mildred as her mother but does not provide a detailed biography of her. It also indicates that Carl was raised by her grandmother rather than describing Mildred as her primary caregiver. Claims about Mildred’s later relationships or life should therefore be treated cautiously.
The Story Behind Her Birth
Carl Ellan Kelley was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis. Her birth has received attention because of the age difference between her parents. Biographical accounts of C. L. Franklin state that Carl’s mother, Mildred Jennings, was 12 when Franklin fathered the child. Franklin was approximately 25. Mildred was connected to the church where he was serving as pastor. These facts raise serious questions about power, age, and abuse, and they should not be softened into an ordinary romantic relationship. At the same time, Carl’s biography should remain centered on her own life. The circumstances of her conception were something she inherited, not something that defined her choices.
Raised by Her Grandmother
Carl Ellan Kelley’s funeral-home obituary provides an important detail about her upbringing: she was raised by her grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry. This separated her childhood experience from the household in which several of C. L. Franklin’s other children were raised. The available public record does not provide enough detail to reconstruct Carl’s relationship with her grandmother or describe their daily life together. It also does not clearly document how much contact Carl had with either parent while growing up. Still, being raised by her grandmother is one of the strongest confirmed facts about her childhood and an important part of understanding her family background.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Siblings
Through her father, Carl Ellan Kelley belonged to the wider Franklin family. Her paternal half-siblings included Cecil Franklin, Erma Franklin, Carolyn Franklin, and Aretha Franklin. Some family histories also discuss Vaughn Franklin, whose paternity has its own complexities. Several of Carl’s half-siblings became closely connected to music and the church. Erma and Carolyn were singers, while Aretha became one of the most celebrated vocalists in American history. Carl followed a much quieter path. Because she did not grow up in exactly the same household, her relationship with each sibling should not be assumed to have matched the relationships they had with one another.
Her Half-Sister, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin was Carl Ellan Kelley’s paternal half-sister. Born in 1942, Aretha became internationally famous for her extraordinary voice and recordings such as “Respect,” “Think,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Her career earned her the title “Queen of Soul” and numerous major honors. Carl, born two years earlier, lived far more privately. Their different public lives make the sisters an interesting contrast within the same family. Aretha’s fame created worldwide interest in the Franklin family, while Carl rarely appeared in entertainment coverage. Their connection was nevertheless recognized within the family and later became relevant to Aretha’s estate.
Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin’s Relationship
There is limited reliable information describing the everyday relationship between Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin. They shared the same father but had different mothers and different childhood experiences. For this reason, claims that they were extremely close or completely estranged should be avoided unless supported by direct evidence. One meaningful piece of documentation emerged after Aretha’s death in August 2018. A handwritten will associated with Aretha’s estate included a financial provision for Carl. This shows that Carl remained recognized within Aretha’s family and estate planning. However, a bequest alone cannot tell us everything about the sisters’ private emotional relationship during their adult lives.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Career
Carl Ellan Kelley’s professional history is not as clearly documented as her family background. Several modern biographies describe her as a nurse and say she spent many years working in healthcare. However, her funeral-home obituary does not provide an occupation, and detailed employment records are not readily available in major public sources. It is therefore safest to describe nursing as reported rather than firmly established through the strongest available documentation. What is clear is that Carl did not build a major public career in singing or entertainment like several of her paternal half-sisters. Her working life appears to have remained largely outside media attention and celebrity coverage.
Personal Life and Children
Carl Ellan Kelley built a family of her own, although details about her marriages or romantic relationships are not clearly documented. Her obituary provides stronger information about her children. It names two surviving sons, Herman E. Wheatley III and Charles G. Smith. It also identifies a daughter, Vivian Smith, who died before Carl. This means available family documentation supports three children rather than the two sometimes listed in online biographies. Carl’s obituary also mentions seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. These details show that her family life extended across several generations. However, the private lives of her descendants should not be expanded beyond information made publicly available.
Carl Ellan Kelley in Aretha Franklin’s Will
Carl Ellan Kelley became part of the public discussion surrounding Aretha Franklin’s estate after handwritten wills were discovered in Aretha’s Detroit home. One of the documents reportedly included a $50,000 provision for Carl. This was notable because Carl rarely appeared in public stories about Aretha’s immediate family. The estate later became the subject of a lengthy legal dispute involving Aretha’s sons and competing handwritten documents. A Michigan jury ruled in 2023 that a 2014 handwritten document represented Aretha’s valid will. Carl had already died by then. Her appearance in Aretha’s estate papers remains useful evidence that she continued to be acknowledged as part of the Franklin family.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Death
Carl Ellan Kelley died on January 30, 2019, at the age of 78. Her death came less than six months after Aretha Franklin died in August 2018. Some modern biographies state that Carl suffered a heart attack at her Detroit home, but her funeral-home obituary does not provide a cause of death. Without stronger medical or official documentation, it is better not to present a heart attack as an established fact. Her obituary instead focuses on her family and the people who survived her. Carl’s death closed a largely private life that had intersected with one of America’s most famous families without becoming defined by celebrity.
Where Was Carl Ellan Kelley Buried?
Some online articles claim that Carl Ellan Kelley was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, where several members of the Franklin family are buried. However, her funeral-home obituary provides different information. It states that Carl was to be laid to rest at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington. Because a funeral-home record is more directly connected to her arrangements, it is the stronger source for this detail. This correction is important because repeated online claims can easily become mistaken for established facts. Based on the available obituary, Evergreen Washelli Cemetery is the most reliably documented burial location associated with Carl Ellan Kelley.
Carl Ellan Kelley’s Legacy
Carl Ellan Kelley’s legacy is very different from that of her famous half-sister. She did not become a celebrated singer, recording artist, or public figure. Instead, the strongest records describe a woman whose life centered largely outside celebrity culture and who left behind children, grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Her story also reveals a difficult chapter in C. L. Franklin’s personal history that can be overlooked when attention focuses only on his ministry and civil rights work. Carl’s recognition in Aretha Franklin’s estate provides another important family connection. Her life deserves to be remembered accurately without turning its painful beginnings into its only defining feature.
Final Thoughts
Carl Ellan Kelley was born into complicated circumstances but lived a life that extended far beyond the story of her parents. She was the daughter of C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings, the half-sister of Aretha Franklin, and a mother whose family eventually included grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Unlike several members of the Franklin family, Carl stayed largely outside music and public life. She died in January 2019 at age 78. Her biography contains gaps, especially around her career and private relationships, but those gaps should not be filled with guesses. The documented record offers a quieter, important chapter in the larger Franklin family story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley?
Carl Ellan Kelley was the daughter of Baptist minister C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings. She was also the paternal half-sister of Aretha Franklin, known worldwide as the Queen of Soul. Unlike several members of the Franklin family, Carl lived mostly outside the public spotlight.
Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley’s Mother?
Carl Ellan Kelley’s mother was Mildred Jennings. Historical accounts identify Mildred as a 12-year-old member of C. L. Franklin’s congregation when Carl was conceived. Carl was later raised largely by her maternal grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry.
Was Carl Ellan Kelley Aretha Franklin’s Sister?
Yes. Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin were paternal half-sisters because they shared the same father, C. L. Franklin. Carl was born in 1940, while Aretha was born in 1942. Their childhoods were different, and reliable details about their personal relationship are limited.
Did Carl Ellan Kelley Have Children?
Yes. Carl’s obituary identifies three children. Her surviving sons were Herman E. Wheatley III and Charles G. Smith. It also names a daughter, Vivian Smith, who died before Carl. Her obituary further mentions seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
When Did Carl Ellan Kelley Die?
Carl Ellan Kelley died on January 30, 2019, at the age of 78. Her death came less than six months after Aretha Franklin died in August 2018. Some online sources report a heart attack as her cause of death, but this is not confirmed in her funeral-home obituary.
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