*Barbara Siggers Franklin – the mother of Aretha Franklin – passed away at a young age (34), but not before she helped bud the musical talents of Aretha who grew up to become a legendary soul singer. Barbara died when Aretha was just nine years old.
Actress Audra McDonald portrays Barbara in the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect.”
Barbara was not only a talented pianist but also a wonderful singer. She was one of the best gospel singers in the US at that time. While she devoted much of her time to her husband and children, she also regularly took part in musical affairs of the churches where her husband, Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, served as a pastor.
Barbara was born in Shelby, Mississippi. She got married to Clarence LaVaughn Franklin in 1936. Barbara already had a son Vaughn (1934-2002) from a previous relationship. CL Franklin adopted Vaughn. As a couple, they had four kids: Erma (1938–2002), Cecil (1940–1989), Aretha (1942–2018), and Carolyn Franklin (1944–1988).
However, it wasn’t smooth riding for the couple, thanks to the husband’s promiscuous behavior. For instance, he was in a relationship with Mildred Jennings, a 12-year-old congregant in Memphis. He sired a daughter called Ellan Kelley with her in 1940.
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In 1948, Barbara could no more stand this troubled marriage; she left her husband and the children and relocated to Buffalo, New York, maybe to be near her mother who lived there. But the couple never officially divorced.
In Buffalo, Barbara started working in a music store. She also gave private music lessons while also training to be a nurse’s aide.
There have been reports for years that Barbara Franklin neglected her children after she separated from her husband. But this is certainly not the case; Aretha Franklin herself has disputed such stories. Moreover, Professor Nick Salvatore of Cornell University rejected such allegations in his biography of CL Franklin. Professor Nick Salvatore pointed out that Barbara Franklin regularly went to Detroit to be with her children, and the children also traveled to Buffalo for summer holidays to stay with her.
On March 7, 1952, Barbara Franklin died of a heart attack at the young age of 34.
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