Farewells continue at father’s church
DETROIT — Before the world marks the end of Aretha Franklin’s life at her funeral today, fans gathered a day early to celebrate her in the place where her faith was forged and her voice was first discovered, singing signature gospel classics like “Amazing Grace” and “Precious Lord.”
The line for the public viewing at New Bethel Baptist Church stretched several blocks Thursday afternoon. Fans wearing a variety of T-shirts bearing Franklin’s image mourned her loss with a smile. There were spontaneous bursts into song, and cheers for the Queen of Soul as they waited to enter the sanctuary.
Shouts of “We love you!” “Ree Ree!” and “Let the Queen through!” could be heard as the white 1940s Cadillac hearse drove down Linwood Street and pulled up to the front of New Bethel. The crowd jockeyed to snap photographs and cellphone videos of Franklin’s bronze casket as it was taken into the church just before noon.
“I had to be here,” said Joyce E. Stroud, who travelled from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to say goodbye to the icon she first met at a concert in California many years ago.
“I met Aretha when I was 23 years old in San Francisco at the Fillmore West when she did that historic three-day concert,” Stroud said. “That was the first time I was introduced to her and I’ve been a lifelong fan.”
Thursday’s viewing was opened to the public after the tremendous outpouring of support throughout the week. Thousands attending the two days of public viewings at The Wright Museum.