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Carl Ellan Kelley’s Life: Secrets, Strength, and the Aretha Franklin’s Sister

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Carl Ellan Kelley is someone you may not know, but her story is very special. She was part of a famous family, but she lived a very quiet life. Her name is connected to the Franklin family — the same family that gave the world the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Even though Carl was Aretha’s sister, she stayed away from the spotlight. She was not a singer, and she didn’t live a public life. But her journey was filled with strength, challenges, and quiet grace. Today, we are going to look closely at her life and see why it matters.

This article will tell you everything about Carl Ellan Kelley — from how she was born, who her parents were, how she found her father later in life, and how she met her famous siblings. So let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Who Was Carl Ellan Kelley?

Carl Ellan Kelley was the daughter of a very well-known man. Her father was Reverend C.L. Franklin, a famous preacher and civil rights leader. He was also the father of Aretha Franklin. That makes Carl the half-sister of Aretha.

But even though she had a famous family, Carl did not grow up with them. Most people didn’t even know she existed for many years. She was not mentioned in public, and her early life was kept very quiet.

Still, Carl had a life of her own. She became a nurse, raised her children, and lived in peace. She didn’t chase fame. Her story is important because it shows a side of the Franklin family that many people never saw.

Carl Ellan Kelley’s Early Life

Carl was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee. At the time, her father was working at a church called New Salem Baptist Church. But her birth was not a happy or planned event. It came with pain and silence.

Her mother, Mildred Jennings, was only 12 years old when Carl was born. That means she was just a child herself. Carl was the result of a very wrong and harmful act. Her father, C.L. Franklin, was 25 at the time and never faced punishment.

Because of this, Carl’s birth was kept a secret. No one in the public knew about her. It was something the family did not talk about. Carl was not raised in the same house as her siblings. She started life with a heavy burden — but she stayed strong.

Raised by Her Grandmother

Carl didn’t grow up with her parents. Instead, she was raised by her grandmother — Mrs. Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry. Her mother, Mildred, was sent away by the church and the people around her after the birth.

This meant that Carl had no contact with her father or his other children for many years. She lived a life far from the spotlight and far from the family name that later became so famous.

Her early years were quiet and private. She grew up like any other regular child, but with a story that was hidden from the world. Even though her family was famous, Carl’s life was simple and separate from all of that.

Reaching Out to Her Father

When Carl became a teenager, she started thinking more about her real father. She already knew who he was — but they had never spoken. At around 18 years old, she decided to contact him and try to understand her identity.

She was a part of a church in Memphis, and the pastor there was A.R. Williams. He was close to Rev. Franklin. Carl trusted him and told him she wanted to write a letter to her father. He supported her and helped her take that step.

Carl wrote the letter, but Rev. Franklin didn’t reply to her directly. Instead, he called Pastor Williams. It’s believed that the pastor had to pressure him to admit Carl was his daughter. This was not an easy moment — but it was a big one in Carl’s life.

Meeting the Franklin Family

After a few months, Carl was invited to visit Detroit, where Rev. Franklin lived. She went there and met her father in person. He accepted her, but it felt like he did it because he had to, not because he wanted to.

Carl also met some of her siblings for the first time. Not everyone was ready to accept her. One of her sisters, Carolyn Franklin, refused to meet her. But their grandmother, Rachel “Big Mama” Franklin, welcomed Carl with open arms.

Even though the church and public never heard about her, Carl continued to visit and stay in touch. Over time, her father became more comfortable. He even had her beside him during church events in New Orleans. Their bond slowly grew stronger.

Her Private Life and Career

Even though Carl Ellan Kelley was part of a famous family, she never lived a public life. She stayed away from the media and never tried to become famous. She chose peace over attention.

Carl worked as a nurse. That means she spent her time taking care of others. She helped people who were sick or needed comfort. It was a job that showed her kindness and care.

She didn’t talk about her past or her family in interviews. She lived a simple and honest life. Her focus was on her work, her home, and her children. That quiet strength was a big part of who she was.

Carl Ellan Kelley’s Children

Carl had a family of her own. She had three children — a daughter named Vivian Smith, and two sons named Charles G. Smith and Herman E. Wheatley III. Sadly, her daughter passed away before she did.

By the time Carl passed away, she had also become a grandmother and a great-grandmother. That means her family had grown big, with new generations remembering and loving her deeply.

She raised her kids with love, care, and strength. Even though she lived away from fame, her family saw her as a strong woman who gave everything to protect and support them.

Her Relationship with Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was one of Carl’s half-sisters. Aretha was world-famous for her singing and is still known as the Queen of Soul. But she and Carl didn’t grow up together.

Even though their bond wasn’t very public, it was clear that they had some connection. In 2014, Aretha added Carl to one of her wills. She left her $50,000, which shows she cared for her.

That quiet act said a lot. It showed respect. Even though their story was mostly private, it seems they shared love in their own quiet way — away from cameras and fame.

Her Half-Siblings and Big Family

Carl had four half-siblings and one step-brother. Most of them were singers, just like Aretha. Her sister Erma Franklin sang Piece of My Heart. Carolyn Franklin was a background singer and songwriter. Both passed away many years ago.

Rev. Cecil Franklin became a preacher, just like their father. He worked at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. He also died in 1989, the same year as Carolyn.

Her step-brother, Vaughn Franklin, was born from a previous relationship before C.L. Franklin married. Vaughn served in the U.S. Air Force and died in 2002. Carl was the last surviving child of Rev. C.L. Franklin when she passed in 2019.

Carl Ellan Kelley’s Death

Carl passed away on January 30, 2019, in her home in Detroit. She was 78 years old. The cause of her death was a heart attack, and she had struggled with heart problems before.

She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. That’s where many of her family members were also buried — including Aretha, Erma, Carolyn, and Rev. Cecil Franklin.

Her passing didn’t make big news stories. But those who knew her, especially her children and grandchildren, remembered her as a calm, kind, and strong woman who lived with quiet dignity.

Final Thoughts

Carl Ellan Kelley’s life was full of deep stories. She was born in silence, but she lived with quiet strength. Her beginning was painful, but she grew up and built a life that mattered.

She never tried to be famous, even though her family was known all over the world. She chose to live a private life — working as a nurse, raising her children, and staying strong through everything.

Her story reminds us that even quiet lives can have great meaning. Carl Ellan Kelley may not have been a star, but she was a survivor, a caregiver, and a strong soul in the Franklin family.