Carl Ellan Kelley was an American woman best known as the half sister of Aretha Franklin. Aretha became famous as the Queen of Soul. Carl chose a very different life and stayed away from the music world.

She was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father was Rev. C. L. Franklin, a famous Baptist minister. Her mother was Mildred Jennings.

Carl lived most of her life outside the public eye. Clear facts about her come from family records and her obituary. Those records show her place in the Franklin family and name her children and grandchildren.

Quick Bio

Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley?

Carl Ellan Kelley was part of a famous American family. Her father became a major church leader. Her half sister Aretha later became one of the best known singers in the world.

Carl did not follow the same path. She did not build a public music career. She also did not seek fame through television or the press.

Her quiet life left fewer public records. Still, her obituary gives a clear family record. It names her parents, grandmother, children, and later generations.

That record helps separate fact from rumor. It also shows that Carl had her own family life. Her story should not be told only through Aretha’s fame.

Early Life in Memphis

Carl was born in Memphis on November 17, 1940. Her father was already working as a Baptist minister. He later became known across the country for his sermons.

Her early home life was not the same as that of several Franklin children. She was mainly raised by her grandmother. Her name was Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry.

This detail matters when looking at Carl’s childhood. She did not grow up in the same home as Aretha and some of her other siblings. Their daily family lives were not the same.

Memphis also had a strong church culture at the time. C. L. Franklin built his early ministry there. Carl was born during that part of his life, before his later fame in Detroit.

Who Were Carl Ellan Kelley’s Parents?

Carl Ellan Kelley was the daughter of Rev. C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings. C. L. Franklin later became a noted minister. He also became active in civil rights work.

Historical research records a painful fact about Carl’s birth. Mildred Jennings was a child when she became pregnant. C. L. Franklin was an adult at the time.

This fact needs careful wording. Mildred was a child and was not an adult equal in that situation. Carl had no role in the events around her birth.

Her parents’ story is part of the public record. But it should not define Carl’s whole life. Her own record centers more on family, privacy, and her later years.

Why Was She Raised by Her Grandmother?

Carl was raised by her grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry. This detail appears in her funeral record. It is one of the clearest facts about her early years.

Because of this, she did not grow up in the same home as several of C. L. Franklin’s other children. Aretha, Erma, Carolyn, and Cecil Franklin had different family settings.

Carl’s childhood also stayed far from public attention. There are few strong records about her school years or daily life. It is better not to fill those gaps with guesses.

Her grandmother’s role is therefore an important fact. It shows who gave Carl her main home as a child. It also helps explain her different place in the wider Franklin story.

Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin

Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin shared the same father. Aretha’s mother was Barbara Siggers Franklin. Carl’s mother was Mildred Jennings.

The sisters lived very different public lives. Aretha started singing gospel music when she was young. She later became a major star in soul and popular music.

Carl stayed away from fame. She did not become a recording artist or public entertainer. Her name appeared much less often in the press.

There are also few firm records about the sisters’ private bond. It is not safe to claim they were very close or distant. Their family link is clear, but private details should stay private unless records support them.

The Franklin Family and Her Siblings

The Franklin family included several people who became well known. Erma Franklin became a singer. She is remembered for her version of “Piece of My Heart.”

Carolyn Franklin also worked in music. She became a singer and songwriter. Cecil Franklin entered church work and later helped with Aretha’s career.

Their father, C. L. Franklin, became famous for his preaching. He also took part in civil rights work. His church in Detroit became an important place for the family.

Carl had other siblings as well. Her obituary names Clark E. Turner and Charles E. Jennings. These names show that her family tree was wider than the group often linked to Aretha.

Did She Work at Boeing?

Some later accounts connect Carl with The Boeing Company. A memorial message from a former co worker also points to a Boeing link. This fits with her later ties to Seattle.

Still, her public obituary does not give a full work history. It does not list a job title at Boeing. It also does not give dates for that work.

Because of this, the safest wording is simple. Carl appears to have worked for Boeing. A detailed career history is not part of the main public record.

Some websites also call her a nurse. Strong records for that claim are hard to find. It is better to leave that claim out than present it as fact.

Children and Family Life

Carl had three children named in her obituary. They were Herman E. Wheatley III, Charles G. Smith, and Vivian Smith. Vivian died before her mother.

Her obituary also lists seven grandchildren. Their names are Alyssa, Rayden, Amaria, Herman IV, Justin, Tevin, and Detric. It also names one great grandchild, Ariya.

These details give a fuller picture of her life. Carl was not only part of a famous family. She was also a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Public records do not give full details about each child’s life. That privacy should be respected. The obituary names the family members without turning their lives into public stories.

Was Carl Ellan Kelley in Aretha Franklin’s Will?

Carl Ellan Kelley was named in reports about one of Aretha Franklin’s handwritten wills. Several handwritten estate papers were found after Aretha died in 2018. One of them was dated 2014.

Reports on that paper said Aretha planned to leave $50,000 to her half sister. The estate later became part of a court case. The court had to decide which handwritten will should control the estate.

In 2023, a jury found the 2014 paper valid. That ruling settled a key part of the estate fight. The $50,000 figure came from that will.

That amount should not be used as proof of Carl’s own wealth. It was a gift named in an estate paper. There is no good reason to turn it into a net worth claim.

Her Death and Funeral

Carl Ellan Kelley died on January 30, 2019. She was 78 years old. Her death came less than six months after Aretha died in August 2018.

Her family held services through Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery in Memphis. Visitation was set for February 5, 2019. The funeral followed on February 6.

Her obituary said she would later be laid to rest at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington. That plan also shows her strong later link to Seattle.

The obituary did not name a medical cause of death. Some sites state that she died from heart failure. Without a clear primary record, that claim should not be stated as confirmed fact.

Why Does Her Private Life Matter?

Carl’s story shows another side of a famous family. Not every person in that family became a singer, minister, or public figure. Some lived quiet lives away from cameras.

Her privacy also makes careful research important. Many websites add career claims, marriage details, and money figures without good proof. Those details can spread once other sites copy them.

The known facts already tell a useful story. She was born in Memphis and raised by her grandmother. She later had children, grandchildren, and a great grandchild.

Her life also shows why famous family names can hide quieter stories. Aretha’s fame was huge, but Carl had a separate life. That life deserves to be described with facts, not guesses.

Facts About Carl Ellan Kelley

• Carl Ellan Kelley was born on November 17, 1940.
• She was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
• Her father was Rev. C. L. Franklin.
• Her mother was Mildred Jennings.
• Her grandmother Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry raised her.
• She was the paternal half sister of Aretha Franklin.
• She was older than Aretha, who was born in 1942.
• Her Franklin siblings included Erma, Carolyn, and Cecil.
• Her obituary also names Clark E. Turner and Charles E. Jennings.
• She had three children named in her obituary.
• Her daughter Vivian died before her.
• She had seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
• She died on January 30, 2019, at age 78.
• Her obituary said she would later be buried in Seattle.

FAQs

Who was Aretha Franklin’s half sister?

Carl Ellan Kelley was a daughter of Rev. C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings. She was also the paternal half sister of Aretha Franklin. She lived mostly outside public life.

How was Carl related to Aretha Franklin?

Carl and Aretha shared the same father, Rev. C. L. Franklin. They had different mothers. This made them paternal half sisters.

Who raised Aretha Franklin’s half sister?

Her grandmother, Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry, raised her. This fact appears in Carl’s published obituary. It is one of the main known facts about her childhood.

Did Carl work for Boeing?

A memorial recollection links Carl with Boeing. Her obituary does not give a full career history or job title. So a detailed Boeing career cannot be stated with certainty.

When did Carl Ellan Kelley die?

She died on January 30, 2019, at age 78. Her funeral was held in Memphis. Her obituary said she would later be buried in Seattle.