Carl Ellan Kelley, also known as Carl Ellan Franklin, was an American woman recognized as the half-sister of Aretha Franklin, the singer widely celebrated as the Queen of Soul. Born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee, she was the daughter of Reverend C. L. Franklin, a Baptist preacher and civil rights activist, and Mildred Jennings.
Unlike her famous half-siblings in the Franklin family, Carl Ellan Kelley spent most of her life away from the spotlight, working as a nurse and raising her own family. She passed away on January 30, 2019, at age 78. This article covers her early life, her family connections, her career, and the details surrounding her death and legacy.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Carl Ellan Kelley |
| Other Name | Carl Ellan Franklin |
| Date of Birth | November 17, 1940 |
| Place of Birth | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Death | January 30, 2019 |
| Age at Death | 78 years old |
| Father | Reverend C. L. Franklin |
| Mother | Mildred Jennings |
| Famous For | Being Aretha Franklin’s half-sister |
| Children | Charles G. Smith and Herman E. Wheatley III |
| Profession | Nurse |
Early Life and Birth
Carl Ellan Kelley was born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her father was Reverend Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, known publicly as C. L. Franklin, and her mother was Mildred Jennings, a young member of his church congregation at the time. Because of the circumstances of her birth, Carl Ellan was not raised in the Franklin household during her early childhood.
Instead, she was largely raised by her grandmother, identified in some records as Mrs. Cornelious Mayo Hill Berry, which kept her separated from her father and half-siblings for much of her early life. This period of her childhood shaped her identity long before she was publicly connected to the Franklin family, and it explains why so little was known about her compared to her half-sister Aretha.
Relationship With Her Father, C. L. Franklin
Reverend C. L. Franklin was one of the most influential Baptist preachers of his era, known for his sermons and his role as a civil rights activist alongside leaders of the movement. He served as pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan, a congregation that became closely tied to the Franklin family’s public identity.
Because Carl Ellan Kelley was born when her mother was very young, her father did not publicly acknowledge her right away, and their father-daughter relationship developed slowly rather than being part of her childhood from the start. In time, C. L. Franklin’s connection to Carl Ellan became part of the broader Franklin family history, even though it was rarely discussed in public compared to his relationships with his more famous children.
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Carl Ellan Kelley and the Franklin Family
The Franklin family became one of the most recognized names in American music and religious life, largely because of C. L. Franklin’s ministry and his children’s careers. Carl Ellan Kelley’s connection to this family came entirely through her biological father, since she did not share the same mother as her half-siblings.
As she grew older, she reconnected with members of the Franklin family, including her half-sister Aretha, and became part of the extended family circle even though she never sought the fame associated with the Franklin name. Her presence in the family history highlights a quieter, more private branch of a household otherwise defined by public achievement.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin, born March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee, was Carl Ellan Kelley’s half-sister through their shared father, C. L. Franklin. Known worldwide as the Queen of Soul, Aretha built a music career spanning more than six decades, becoming one of the most decorated performers in history with 18 Grammy Awards to her name. As a singer and songwriter, she left a permanent mark on the music industry, influencing generations of soul, gospel, and R&B artists.
Despite her global fame, Aretha kept her connection to Carl Ellan largely private. Reports indicate that Aretha Franklin’s will included a provision leaving Carl Ellan Kelley $50,000, a gesture that suggested the two half-sisters maintained a genuine, if quiet, family bond despite growing up apart.
Other Franklin Siblings
Carl Ellan Kelley was one of several children fathered by C. L. Franklin, and her half-siblings each carved out their own place within the Franklin family’s legacy in music and ministry.
Erma Franklin
Erma Franklin, born March 13, 1938, was another of Carl Ellan Kelley’s half-siblings and a talented soul and gospel singer in her own right. She is best remembered for her original recording of “Piece of My Heart,” a song that later became a major hit when covered by Janis Joplin. Erma had a respected career in the music industry, though she lived a more private life than Aretha.
Carolyn Franklin
Carolyn Franklin was also a singer and songwriter within the Franklin family, contributing to the household’s deep musical roots. She worked closely with her siblings in the gospel and soul music space, helping shape some of the sound associated with the Franklin name.
Reverend Cecil Franklin
Reverend Cecil Franklin followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a pastor, continuing the family’s tradition of ministry that began with C. L. Franklin at New Bethel Baptist Church. He also played an important role in managing aspects of Aretha Franklin’s career.
Vaughn Franklin
Vaughn Franklin was another member of the Franklin siblings, though he stayed largely outside of the music industry that defined much of his family’s public identity, choosing instead a quieter path similar in some ways to Carl Ellan Kelley’s own life.
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Career and Personal Life
Unlike her musically gifted half-siblings, Carl Ellan Kelley pursued a career in nursing rather than the entertainment industry. She dedicated much of her adult life to caring for others in a professional capacity, a career choice that reflected a different kind of contribution compared to the fame associated with the Franklin family.
Her personal life was kept largely private, and she was known for maintaining a low profile even after her connection to Aretha Franklin became more widely recognized. This approach to her personal life set her apart from her siblings, who lived much of their lives in public view.
Husband and Relationships
Details about Carl Ellan Kelley’s marriage and relationships remain limited, consistent with the generally private life she led. What is known is that she started a family of her own, and some accounts of her personal history reference ties to military service during the era of the United States Air Force and the Vietnam veteran generation, reflecting the broader social context of the time in which she and her family lived.
Christianity and religion also played a role in her upbringing, given her father’s position as a Baptist preacher, though her own private life and relationships were rarely discussed publicly.
Children
Carl Ellan Kelley had two children: Charles G. Smith and Herman E. Wheatley III. Through them, she also became a grandmother and, in time, a great-grandmother, extending her own branch of the Franklin family history into the next generations.
While her children did not pursue careers in music or public life the way some of their aunts and uncles did, they represent the continuation of Carl Ellan Kelley’s personal legacy, separate from the wider fame of the Franklin name.
Death and Burial
Carl Ellan Kelley died on January 30, 2019, at the age of 78. Her death was attributed to a heart attack, following a period of heart problems that had affected her health for some time prior. She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan, the same cemetery where her father, C. L. Franklin, and several of her Franklin siblings are also laid to rest.
Her burial there placed her permanently alongside the family she had reconnected with later in life, closing the story of a woman whose childhood had once kept her apart from them.
Net Worth
Because Carl Ellan Kelley lived a private life centered on nursing rather than the entertainment industry, there is no widely documented or verified estimate of her net worth. Unlike her half-sister Aretha Franklin, whose wealth stemmed from a decades-long career in music, Carl Ellan’s finances were never part of public record in the same way, reflecting the quieter, less publicized life she chose to lead.
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Social Media and Public Presence
Carl Ellan Kelley did not maintain a notable public presence or social media following during her lifetime. Her connection to the Franklin family became known primarily through family history and posthumous coverage rather than any personal public platform. This lack of social media presence is consistent with the private nature of her career as a nurse and her general avoidance of the public attention that came with the Franklin name.
Interesting Facts
A few details make Carl Ellan Kelley’s story stand out within the broader Franklin family history:
- She was born nearly two years before her famous half-sister Aretha Franklin.
- She was raised separately from the Franklin family for much of her childhood due to the circumstances of her birth.
- Aretha Franklin included her in her will, leaving her $50,000 as a sign of their family bond.
- She chose a career in nursing rather than following her siblings into the music industry.
- She was buried at the same cemetery, Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, as her father and several of her Franklin siblings.
