Aretha Franklin to join her family, Rosa Parks at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan USA

Story by Detroit Free Press
Written by Ann Zaniewski
Photo: Leni Sinclair

Legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin will join her late family members and many other well-known Detroiters in her final resting place: Woodlawn Cemetery.

Franklin, who died Aug. 16, will be entombed at Woodlawn alongside her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin; her brother, Cecil Franklin; her sisters, Carolyn Franklin and Erma Franklin, and nephew Thomas Garrett, according to a family representative.

Located on 140 acres off Woodward Avenue, Woodlawn also hosts the remains of city leaders and titans of industry and Motown. It was founded in 1895.

Read more about Aretha Franklin:

1. Family: Funeral will be private: https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/aretha-franklin/2018/08/20/aretha-franklin-funeral-private/1043064002/

2. Public viewing at Wright Museum: https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/music/aretha-franklin/2018/08/16/aretha-franklin-died-funeral-memorial/1009278002/

3. Full coverage remembering the Queen of Soul: https://www.freep.com/entertainment/music/aretha-franklin/


Janet Jackson on Aretha Franklin: https://twitter.com/i/status/1031261435588956160

Here's a look at some of the famous people who are resting there:

• Civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Parks was interred in 2005 at a mausoleum that was renamed the Rosa L. Parks Freedom Chapel. The Free Press reported in 2006 that prices for the chapel crypts jumped from 42% to more than 100% following the renaming.

• Rev. C.L. Franklin. Franklin, Aretha Franklin's father, was a well-known minister who founded New Bethel Baptist Church. He died in 1984 and is interred in a mausoleum at Woodlawn, as are Aretha's siblings, Carolyn, Erma and Cecil.

• Former Detroit Mayor Albert E. Cobo, who died in 1957.

• Automotive industry pioneers Horace and John Dodge.

• Several members of the Ford family.

• Gospel singers Ronald Winans and David Glenn “Pop” Winans, Sr.

• Several Motown artists, including Levi Stubbs, the lead singer of The Four Tops; Bobbie Smith, founding member of The Spinners; and singer David Ruffin of The Temptations.
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Contact staff writer Ann Zaniewski at 313-222-6594 or azaniewski@freepress.com