News

Carl Ellan Kelley: The Untold Life Story of Aretha Franklin’s Half-Sister and Her Family Legacy

Carl Ellan Kelley was the half-sister of legendary American singer Aretha Franklin, widely remembered as the Queen of Soul. Although her family was famous around the world, Carl Ellan lived a mostly private life away from cameras and public attention. Her story includes a complicated childhood, a famous father, and family relationships that developed over many years.

Born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee, she was the daughter of Reverend C. L. Franklin and Mildred Jennings. Unlike her famous siblings, Carl Ellan did not pursue a public career in entertainment. However, her connection to one of America’s most influential musical families has continued to attract interest.

Table of Contents

Quick Bio

Field	Details
Full Name	Carl Ellan Kelley (also recorded as Carl Ellan Franklin Kelly)
Famous For	Being Aretha Franklin’s half-sister
Date of Birth	November 17, 1940
Birthplace	Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Date of Death	January 30, 2019
Age at Death	78 years
Nationality	American
Father	Reverend C. L. Franklin
Mother	Mildred Jennings
Grandmother	Mrs. Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry
Famous Half-Sister	Aretha Franklin
Other Half-Siblings	Erma, Cecil, Carolyn Franklin, and others
Children	Herman E. Wheatley III, Charles G. Smith, and Vivian Smith
Funeral Services	February 6, 2019, Memphis, Tennessee

Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley?

Carl Ellan Kelley was an American woman who became known through her family connection to Aretha Franklin. Her father, Reverend C. L. Franklin, was a well-known Baptist minister whose preaching attracted large audiences.

Although she belonged to this famous family, Carl Ellan’s childhood was different from that of Aretha and her siblings. She grew up largely outside her father’s household and did not experience the same public attention.

Much of what is known about her comes from family history and her obituary. Her life offers another perspective on the Franklin family, beyond music, awards, and celebrity success.

Early Life and Childhood

Carl Ellan Kelley was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her mother, Mildred Jennings, was a young member of Reverend C. L. Franklin’s congregation.

Historical accounts describe a deeply troubling aspect of her birth: Mildred was reportedly only 12 years old. This history raises serious concerns about the exploitation of a child and remains an important part of understanding the family’s past.

Carl Ellan was primarily raised by her maternal grandmother, Mrs. Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry. Her grandmother provided the family home in which she spent much of her early life.

Meanwhile, her father eventually became a major religious figure in Detroit, where the Franklin household became closely connected with gospel music and prominent musicians.

Carl Ellan Kelley’s Parents and Family Background

Carl Ellan’s father, Reverend Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, was one of the best-known Baptist preachers of his generation. His sermons, religious leadership, and connection to the civil rights movement made him an influential figure in African American communities.

He was also the father of Aretha Franklin, Erma Franklin, Cecil Franklin, and Carolyn Franklin, whose mother was Barbara Siggers Franklin.

Carl Ellan’s mother, Mildred Jennings, lived outside the main Franklin household. Far less information is publicly available about her life.

These different family circumstances meant Carl Ellan did not grow up alongside all her half-siblings. Nevertheless, she remained part of the wider Franklin family.

Relationship with Aretha Franklin

One of the most interesting parts of Carl Ellan Kelley’s life was her relationship with Aretha Franklin.

Aretha became an international music star through unforgettable songs such as “Respect,” “Think,” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Carl Ellan, meanwhile, preferred a life away from the entertainment industry.

Accounts of the family’s history suggest that Carl Ellan connected with her father during her teenage years, around age 17. This helped bring her into contact with relatives she had not grown up alongside.

Although there are limited public details about the sisters’ personal conversations or time together, later discussions of Aretha’s estate brought renewed attention to their relationship.

Their different lifestyles show how two members of the same family could experience very different paths in life.

Carl Ellan Kelley and Aretha Franklin’s Inheritance

After Aretha Franklin died on August 16, 2018, questions about her estate became a major legal story.

Two handwritten wills, dated 2010 and 2014, were discovered in her home. The documents contained different instructions about how her property should be divided.

In July 2023, a Michigan jury ruled that the 2014 handwritten document was a valid will. Later that year, a judge made decisions about property distribution based on the document.

Some biographical accounts have reported that Carl Ellan Kelley was named to receive $50,000. However, this particular amount has not been independently confirmed through the available primary court records, so it should be treated as a reported claim rather than an established payment.

The larger inheritance dispute also drew attention to the private lives and relationships within the Franklin family.

Marriage, Children, and Personal Life

While her famous half-sister spent decades performing around the world, Carl Ellan Kelley kept much of her personal life private.

She was the mother of three children: Herman E. Wheatley III, Charles G. Smith, and Vivian Smith. Her daughter Vivian passed away before her.

Her obituary also recorded several grandchildren and a great-grandchild, showing that she left behind a wider family across multiple generations.

Reliable public information about her marriage history, professional career, and daily activities is limited. Rather than building a public identity around her family name, she remained largely outside celebrity culture.

Her children and descendants form an important part of her personal legacy.

Carl Ellan Kelley’s Death and Funeral

Carl Ellan Kelley passed away on January 30, 2019, at the age of 78. Her death came less than six months after Aretha Franklin died in August 2018.

Some secondary reports attribute her death to a heart attack, although the official funeral-home obituary does not publicly establish a medical cause.

Her family arranged visitation on February 5, 2019, followed by funeral services on February 6 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.

The funeral-home obituary also stated that she would later be laid to rest at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.

Her obituary remembered her through the relatives she left behind, including her sons, grandchildren, great-grandchild, nieces, and nephews.

Why Carl Ellan Kelley’s Story Still Matters

Carl Ellan Kelley’s story is important because it reveals a lesser-known side of a famous American family.

The Franklin name is usually associated with gospel music, soul, powerful singing, and cultural achievement. However, the family’s history also includes difficult relationships, separation, and experiences that received little public attention.

Carl Ellan’s childhood shows how complicated family connections can be, especially when relatives grow up in different homes.

Her story also reminds readers that being related to a celebrity does not mean someone chooses a public lifestyle.

She deserves to be remembered as an individual with her own family history, not simply as Aretha Franklin’s half-sister.

Conclusion

Carl Ellan Kelley lived a life very different from that of her world-famous sister, Aretha Franklin. Born in Memphis in 1940, she experienced an unusual and difficult family background before becoming connected with the wider Franklin family.

Although she avoided public attention, her story remains an important part of the family’s history. Her children, grandchildren, and surviving relatives continued her legacy after her death in January 2019.

Remembering Carl Ellan Kelley helps bring attention to a woman whose life was more than her famous surname.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who was Carl Ellan Kelley?

Carl Ellan Kelley was the paternal half-sister of legendary American singer Aretha Franklin. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1940 and lived mostly outside the public spotlight.