Barbara Siggers Franklin was an American music enthusiast mother of popular musician, Aretha Franklin. During her lifetime, she saw the highs and lows of life as a close associate to popular family members;
A lot about her is not known but her life is interesting. Apart from being a mother to Aretha and her siblings, she was married to one of the Southern preachers, Rev. C.L. Franklin.
What was her life like, why did she separate from her preacher husband and other unknown facts about her are in this article.
Biography Of Barbara Siggers Franklin
Barbara Vernice Siggers was born on 29 June. !917 in Shelby Mississippi. Her birth and growing up were in Shelby.
She was the wife of Rev. C.L. Franklin and with him, they had four children. Their children were Erma, Cecil, Aretha, and Vaughn. Barbara had Vaughn before she got married to Lewis. Vaughn never knew Franklin was not his father till 1951.
From a young age, Barbara had an interest in music. Despite not reaching acclaim as a musician, she still did one form of music or the other.
Remarkably, members of her family made a name in the music industry. Her daughter was regarded as the queen of soul at the time of her death.
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Her Life And Career
On June 3, 1936, Barbara and C.L. Franklin tied the knot. Franklin was a Reverend with the American Baptist church and a civil rights activist.
In her time many regarded her as a gifted pianist. Mahalia Jackson described her as a fine gospel singer in the country.
Most of her life was spent outside of pursuing a career in music. Her outlet for her music was in church ministrations. She was active in the music affairs of the churches that her husband pastored and concentrated on the primary role of a wife.
Years down the line, the marriage faced a storm that forced the couple to separate. Barbara got fed up with her husband’s infidelities.
Her other ventures included training others in music and training as a nurse’s aide.
Death Of Barbara Siggers Franklin
Barbara Siggers Franklin suffered and died from a heart in 1952. She was 34 at the time of her death.
She died in Buffalo but her husband, C.L. Franklin did not attend her funeral. Her final resting home is at Forest Lawn Cemetry in Buffalo, New York.
8 Facts About Barbara Siggers Franklin
1. Barbara Siggers Franklin Husband Was The Million Dollar Voice
During his life, Rev. C.L. Franklin was one of the most vocal and famous Baptist Church preachers.
He started preaching at the age of 16. At the height of his fame, he commanded as much as $4000 for his appearances.
Franklin was known as a ‘million dollar voice’ for his singing voice and style of preaching.
Some of his famous sermons include:
The Eagle Stirreth Her Nest
Dry Bones In The Valley
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2. Her Daughter Had A Child At Twelve
One of the trying moments for the Franklin family was when their twelve-year-old daughter, Aretha put to bed.
While she points the child’s paternity to a boy from school, some alleged her father was the father of her child.
3. She And Her Husband Never Divorced
Despite their separation on the grounds of infidelity, the couple never officially divorced.
She moved to buffalo while Franklin continued with his life and ministry. The immediate cause of their separation is linked to his impregnating a twelve-year-old member of his church.
4. Barbara Siggers Franklin Worked In A Music Store
After her separation from Franklin, Barbara worked to support herself. She worked in a music store.
While doing what she loves doing, playing the piano, she gave private lessons. The piano must have been Barbara’s lifelong music companion.
5. Mother To The Queen Of Soul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diwF1-xJwZM
Though Barbara never made music in her name, her daughter Aretha found success as a singer.
Aretha had 38 studio albums and 6 live albums in her music career. The world mourned the death of the ‘queen of soul’ in 2018 when Aretha died.
Some of Aretha’s well-known songs include:
I Never Loved A Man
I Say A Little Prayer
Chain Of Fools
Respect
6. Barbara Siggers Franklin Did Not Abandon Her Children
Many speculations claimed she abandoned her children after leaving the Rev Franklin, Aretha clarified it. Barbara moved to Buffalo with Vaughn.
In interviews, Aretha clarified that they often went for summer holidays to stay with her in Buffalo. On the other hand, Barbara traveled to Detroit in Michigan to see her children who stayed with relatives.
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7. Why Did The Family Use The Franklin Surname
Barbara Siggers Franklin’s husband was born Clarence LaVaughn Walker to Rachel and Willie Walker’
His father never taught him anything except to salute after his return from the first world war. At the age of four, his father abandoned the family.
His mother remarried Henry Franklin and the family changed the surname to Henry’s. He was possibly a better man to them.
8. Barbara Siggers Franklin’s Daughter and Husband Were Eulogized By Rev. Jasper Williams
At her husband’s death in 1984, his friend, Rev. Jasper Williams gave the eulogy.
When Aretha Franklin died in 2018, the same Rev. gave her eulogy during her funeral service. Hers and her father’s death happened within a period of over three decades.
