During the service, 10 ministers and deacons from various Detroit churches took to the podium to speak, sing and offer prayers.
- August 16, 2018
AceShowbiz - A group of people gathered at a church in Detroit, Michigan on Wednesday morning (August 15) to pray for Aretha Franklin as she battles ill health.
The "Respect" hitmaker, 76, is reportedly "gravely ill" and being surrounded by family at her bedside in Detroit, and elsewhere in the city, fans have gathered to pray for her wellbeing.
According to the Detroit Free Press, more than 75 people gathered at the New Bethel Baptist Church for their 5 a.m. service on Wednesday morning and held a prayer vigil dedicated to Franklin. The church has a particular connection to the soul legend as it was led for 33 years by her father, the late Rev. C. L. Franklin, who died in 1984.
During the service, 10 ministers and deacons from various Detroit churches took to the podium to speak, sing and offer prayers, while Calvin Hughes, who was introduced as "the only man to play the organ for both the Pope and the Queen of Soul," provided the musical accompaniment.
"Father God, we come this morning asking you to touch the Queen of Soul today. Lord, we ask you to touch her even right now. Lord, you know her because you blessed her right here in this church many years ago," Rev. Ryan Johnson of the Greater Burnette Baptist Church said.
"You blessed her father to be one of the greatest preachers of the 20th Century. But then, Holy Father, you gifted her with the gift of song. Then Holy Father you have allowed her to share her gift with this world. Then, Lord, you have allowed us to be touched not only by the gift of her music but by her generous spirit, her kind acts and deeds."
Fannie Tyler, the singer's longtime executive assistant, accepted flowers from the church members on Franklin's behalf.
Explaining why she'd attended the vigil, Alycia Roberts said, "We owe it to her... She was a blessing to all of us. I'm here out of respect."
On Tuesday, the ailing singer was well enough to receive visitors, and her friend Stevie Wonder dropped by, as well as her ex-husband, Glynn Turman, and civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson.
