The late Queen of Soul's family allegedly has already picked the location for a memorial service and public viewing, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
- Aug 18, 2018
AceShowbiz - Aretha Franklin's family are reportedly planning to hold a memorial service for the late singer at a museum in Detroit, Michigan.
The Queen of Soul passed away at her home in Detroit following a battle with advanced pancreatic cancer on Thursday, August 16, days after it had been reported that the 76-year-old was "gravely ill".
According to TMZ.com, her family has already picked the location for a memorial service and public viewing - the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in the city, where Aretha was a frequent visitor. It was also where the public viewing of civil rights activist Rosa Parks took place following her death in 2005.
Sources close to the family have told reporters that the museum was chosen because it can accommodate the thousands of mourners they expect to show up. A traditional church service wasn't an option due to the predicted turnout.
The viewing will also reportedly be open casket and feature a lot of singing. No date has been set for the service as yet.
According to The Blast, officials at Swanson Funeral Home in Detroit have brought in extra security to make sure nobody accesses Aretha's remains while she's in their care. Her body was collected from her condo and taken to the home by white company hearses on Thursday.
On Friday morning, Aretha's second ex-husband Glynn Turman, who was married to the "Respect" singer from 1978 until their separation in 1982, appeared on U.K. show "Good Morning Britain" via video link and recalled his visit with her during her final days.
"(Aretha was) strong to the very end. I was holding her hand at the bedside, holding her wrist, which was now no more than skin and bone, but her pulse was so strong and so, so full of life," he said. "Her breathing was such a defiance of what was attacking her, that you got the sense Aretha was fighting all the way."
