Aretha Franklin funeral set for Aug. 31 in Detroit

Last rites will be performed in Franklin’s hometown Detroit

Detroit: The funeral of legendary singer Aretha Franklin will be held in her hometown Detroit on August 31, after a two- day public viewing at a city museum to allow fans to mourn, her publicist said Friday.

Plans for the final farewell to the “Queen of Soul” — who died on Thursday at age 76 after a battle with pancreatic cancer — started coming together as tributes poured in from around the world, and fans congregated at key sites in the city, the home of Motown.

The funeral at Greater Grace Temple — which seats about 4,000 people — will be limited to family, friends and invited guests, expected to range from music royalty to dignitaries from around the world. On August 28 and 29, fans will be able to say a final farewell at a public viewing staged at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The visitation will last 12 hours each day, according to Franklin's publicist Gwendolyn Quinn.

Franklin is to buried with other members of her family at Woodlawn Cemetery.

The days- long celebration of Franklin's life is also expected to include a tribute concert, but details of that event were not immediately available.

Franklin — an 18- time Grammy winner with a clear, rich voice able to span musical genres — influenced generations of singers with unforgettable hits including Respect ( 1967), Natural Woman ( 1968) and I Say a Little

Prayer ( 1968). On Friday, fans continued to pay their respects, leaving mementos outside to mark respect. — AFP