Difference between revisions of "C. L. Franklin" - New World Encyclopedia

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The Reverend Clarence LaVaughn Franklin (January 22, 1915 – July 27, 1984) was a highly influential African American Baptist preacher and civil rights activist. He was also the father of the legendary singer Aretha Franklin.

Early life

Franklin was born and raised in Sunflower County, Mississippi and at age 16 became a preacher. He initially worked as an itinerant "circuit" preacher, before settling in Memphis, Tennessee and later moving to Buffalo, New York to serve as pastor of the Greater Friendship Baptist Church. Franklin married his first wife, Alene Gaines, on October 16, 1934. The marriage had ended by 1936, although the exact time and form of dissolution is unknown.

On June 3, 1936, he married Barbara Siggers Franklin and they had four children: Erma, Cecil,Aretha, and Carolyn. Barbara brought a son, Vaughn, from a previous relationship to the marriage, whom C. L. adopted. In 1940 C. L. reportedly fathered a daughter out of wedlock by a teenager in his congregation.

In 1946 Franklin moved to Detroit, where he founded the New Bethel Baptist Church. In 1948, C. L. and Barbara separated, with Barbara taking Vaughn to Buffalo, New York, leaving C. L. with the couple's four other children. Barbara made trips back to Detroit to visit her children until her death from heart trouble in 1952.

National career

A gifted and charismatic preacher, his fame grew throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and he preached throughout the country. Known as the man with the "Million Dollar Voice," Franklin was one of the first ministers to place his sermons on records, which continued into the 1970s and brought him national fame among black Christians. He was also one of the first preachers to broadcast sermons via radio on Sundays. He would eventually record 76 albums of gospel songs and sermons.

Among his most famous recorded sermons were "The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest" and "Dry Bones in the Valley." These and others of his recorded messages were listened to many times by his nationwide audience, making him one of the most widely heard and effective preachers in American history up to that time.

In addition to being a gifted preacher Franklin was known for his fine singing voice and became highly influential in gospel music circles. He also greatly encouraged his daughter Aretha's music talent, and by the late-1950s took Aretha with him on speaking tours and musical engagements. In 1961 the growing New Bethel Baptist Church moved to a converted movie theater with a seating capacity of 2200.

During the Civil Rights Movement, C. L. Franklin was a friend and ally of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who sometimes attended Franklin's church when visiting Detroit. In 1963, Franklin helped organize a march to end racial discrimination in Detroit, in which King and King led together.

He was also known for his close collaborations with gospel signings Mahalia Jackson and Clara Ward, of gospel music's greatest voices.Ward and her singing groups frequently toured with Franklin, and he Ward and reportedly had a long-term romantic relationship). Ward and Jackson greatly encouraged his daughter, Aretha, and she credits their mentoring and frequent visits to the Franklin home as great influences.

In 1969 Franklin rented his church to members of the black militant group known as the the Republic of New Africa, after the assured him they had no firearms. A showdown with police soon resulted, in which a police officer was killed and another wounded.

Death

In Jun 1979, a group of men broke into Franklin's home, apparently intent on theft. Franklin reportedly shot at the intruders, and they returned fire, hitting him in the groin and the knee, and then making their escape. Medics took him to Henry Ford Hospital where, he was admitted in critical condition. He would remain in a comatose condition for the rest of his life. Five men were charged in the incient, with two of them receiving a sentence of 25-50 years after pleading guilty of assault with intent to murder.

A widower, Franklin's children refused at first to admit him to a nursing home, reportedly spending $2500 a week on medical expenses for. After five years, they finally placed him in the New Light Nursing Home, where he died after only four days, on July 27, 1984.

His funeral at the New Bethel Baptist Church was attended by many of his fellow preachers and members of his congregation, as well as noted politicians, entertainers, journalists. Nearly 6000 people listened to the funeral service outside the church on loudspeakers.

Legacy

Archbishop LeRoy Bailey Jr. , senior pastor of The First Cathedral considers C. L . Franklin as one of his lifes major influences.

Credits

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 ==National career==
-A gifted and charismatic preacher, his fame grew throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and he preached throughout the country. Known as the man with the "Million Dollar Voice", Franklin was one of the first ministers to place his sermons on [[record album|records]], which continued into the 1970s and brought him national fame among black Christians. He was also one of the first preachers to broadcast sermons via [[radio]] on Sundays. He would eventually record 76 albums of gospel songs and sermons.
+A gifted and charismatic preacher, his fame grew throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and he preached throughout the country. Known as the man with the "Million Dollar Voice," Franklin was one of the first ministers to place his sermons on [[record album|records]], which continued into the 1970s and brought him national fame among black Christians. He was also one of the first preachers to broadcast sermons via [[radio]] on Sundays. He would eventually record 76 albums of gospel songs and sermons.
-Among his most famous recorded sermons were "The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest" and "Dry Bones in the Valley." These and others of his recorded messages were listened to many times by his nationwide audience, making him one of the most effective preachers in American history.
+Among his most famous recorded sermons were "The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest" and "Dry Bones in the Valley." These and others of his recorded messages were listened to many times by his nationwide audience, making him one of the most widely heard and effective preachers in American history up to that time.
-In addition to being a gifted preacher Franklin was known for his fine singing voice and became highly influential in gospel music circles. He also greatly encouraged his daughter Aretha's music talent, and by the late-1950s took Aretha with him on speaking tours and musical engagements.
+In addition to being a gifted preacher Franklin was known for his fine singing voice and became highly influential in gospel music circles. He also greatly encouraged his daughter Aretha's music talent, and by the late-1950s took Aretha with him on speaking tours and musical engagements. In 1961 the growing New Bethel Baptist Church moved to a converted movie theater with a seating capacity of 2200.
-In 1961 the growing New Bethel Baptist Church moved to a converted movie theater with a seating capacity of 2200.  He also helped organize a freedom march to end racial discrimination in downtown Detroit in 1963, with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King at his side.
+During the [[Civil Rights Movement]], C. L. Franklin was a friend and ally of [[Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.]], who sometimes attended Franklin's church when visiting Detroit. In 1963, Franklin helped organize a march to end racial discrimination in Detroit, in which  King and King led together.
-During the [[Civil Rights Movement]], C. L. Franklin was a friend and ally of [[Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.]], and was also known for his close collaborations with gospel signings [[Mahalia Jackson]] and [[Clara Ward]], of [[gospel music]]'s greatest voices.Ward and her singing groups frequently toured with Franklin, and he Ward and reportedly had a long-term romantic relationship). Ward and Jackson greatly encouraged his daughter, [[Aretha Franklin|Aretha]], and she credits their mentoring and frequent visits to the Franklin home as great influences.
+He was also known for his close collaborations with gospel signings [[Mahalia Jackson]] and [[Clara Ward]], of [[gospel music]]'s greatest voices.Ward and her singing groups frequently toured with Franklin, and he Ward and reportedly had a long-term romantic relationship). Ward and Jackson greatly encouraged his daughter, [[Aretha Franklin|Aretha]], and she credits their mentoring and frequent visits to the Franklin home as great influences.
+In 1969 Franklin rented his church to members of the black militant group known as the the [[Republic of New Africa]], after the assured him they had no firearms. A showdown with police soon resulted, in which a police officer was killed and another wounded.
-In 1969 he rented his church to the members of the Republic of New Africa, a militant black organization. He only let them use it if they assured him there would be no guns. He said "their goals are the same as ours, only they approach them from different directions." One Detroit police officer was killed and another wounded when shots were fired outside of the church during the meeting. 142 persons were arrested. Most were released because the arrests were declared improper. It is said "that move helped black political power in Detroit mature."
 == Death ==
-On Sunday June 10, 1979, Reverend Franklin was watching television in the second floor bedroom of his home at 7415 La Salle Blvd, on Detroit's near West Side. A group of men broke into his home with the intention of stealing antique windows. Whatever. Franklin caught them off guard and shot at them with his own gun. They in return shot him twice and fled. There was over $30,000 worth of cash and checks in the bedroom closet (?!) that those fools missed.
+In Jun 1979, a group of men broke into Franklin's home, apparently intent on theft. Franklin reportedly shot at the intruders, and they returned fire, hitting him in the groin and the knee, and then making their escape. Medics took him to Henry Ford Hospital where, he was admitted in [[critical condition]]. He would remain in a comatose condition for the rest of his life. Five men were charged in the incient, with two of them receiving a sentence of 25-50 years after pleading guilty of assault with intent to murder.
-He was hit in the right knee, and the groin. Medics took him to Henry Ford Hospital where he was in critical condition. Aretha Franklin was performing at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. She rushed home when she got the news about her father, but he never fully regained consciousness again.
-Five people were eventually charged for his shooting. They received sentences ranging from probation for two of them, to a 25-50 year sentence for one of two defendants who pleaded guilty to assault with intent to murder. A 6th was granted immunity to snitch.
-Reverend Franklin's children (he was a widower) tried to avoid admitting him to a nursing home, spending as much as $2500 a week in medical expenses. He remained in a comatose state for over five years. They eventually admitted him to the New Light Nursing Home on Grand River. He'd been there only 4 days when he died of heart failure. It was July 27, 1984.
+A widower, Franklin's children refused at first to admit him to a nursing home, reportedly spending $2500 a week on medical expenses for. After five years, they finally placed him in the New Light Nursing Home, where he died after only four days, on July 27, 1984.
-Reverend Franklin's body lay in state at the Swanson Funeral Home, 806 E. Grand Blvd. He was dressed in a cream colored suit and brown tie, with a white Bible at his side.
+His funeral at the New Bethel Baptist Church was attended by many of his fellow preachers and members of his congregation, as well as noted politicians, entertainers, journalists. Nearly 6000 people listened to the funeral service outside the church on loudspeakers.
-His funeral was scheduled for 11am Saturday August 4th at the New Bethel Baptist Church. Those attending included his colleagues from the preaching world, politicians, entertainers, journalists and hundreds of supporters and members of his congregation.
-Nearly 6000 people gathered outside the church, to hear the service on loudspeakers. Another 3000 jammed the church, to hear Rev. Jesse Jackson eulogize his friend and colleague. During the 4-hour service, heat or emotion overcame 8 people.
-== Death ==
-On June 10, 1979 C. L. was shot twice during what was said to be an attempted robbery at his Linwood Avenue home on Detroit's west side. He then remained in a coma for the next five years until his death on July 27, 1984. He died just one week after being placed in a Detroit nursing home. Prior to that, his children cared for him at home. His friend, Rev. Jasper Williams Jr., of Salem Baptist Church of [[Atlanta, Georgia]], gave Franklin's eulogy.
 ==Legacy==