Aretha laid to rest
Loved ones arrived at the cemetery after a 16km processional
Aretha Franklin is in her final resting place.
The casket of the Queen of Soul was interred on Friday evening in a mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, just over two weeks after she died of pancreatic cancer at age 76.
Franklin’s loved ones arrived at the cemetery after a 16km processional through her hometown from Greater Grace Temple, where an eight-hour service of songs, sermons and speeches was held earlier in the day.
The interment ends the formal mourning for Franklin, who was dressed in four different outfits for open-casket viewings in the days leading up to the funeral.
She was buried in a gold dress.
Stevie Wonder wowed with his harmonica skills
and then brought the remaining mourners at Franklin’s lengthy funeral to their feet with a moving version of As.
The choir, Franklin’s family, preachers and remaining guests swayed as Wonder played the classic tune.
“The reason we are here today is love,” Wonder said in remarks.
Before Wonder performed, Gladys Knight sang You’ll Never Walk Alone and Bridge Over Troubled Water . As Franklin’s coffin left the church, Jennifer Holliday sang Climbing Higher Mountains.
Others who performed over the eight-hour ceremony included Faith Hill, Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande and Chaka Khan.