F I N AL VERSION
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, Officiant
Rev. Robert Smith Jr., Co-Officiant

9:30-9:50am Musical Prelude .............................................................................................. Aretha Franklin Orchestra
9:50-10:00am Lighting of Candles .................................................................................. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc.
(The seven candles at the head represent the seven stars, which are the angles. The seven candle sticks at the foot represent the seven
churches. We feel that we are living in the days of Revelation. Rev. 1:20)

10:00-10:20am Processional .......................................................................................... Clergy, Ministers and Family
10:20-10:25am Prayer of Comfort ................................................. Dr. E.L. Branch, Pastor, Third New Hope Church
10:25-10:40am Scripture of Comfort:
10:25am Old Testament: .............................................. Bishop T.D. Jakes, Potter’s House, Dallas, TX
10:30am New Testament: ................................................... Pastor Solomon Kinloch, Triumph Church
10:35am The Psalm: ........................... Bishop P.A. Brooks, Pastor, New St. Paul Tabernacle Church
10:40-10:45am Musical Tribute ..............................................................................Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir
10:45-10:49am Musical Tribute ........................................................................................................................ Faith Hill
10:49-11:03am Remarks: ...................................................................................................................................................
10:49am Brenda Jones, City Council President
10:51am JoAnn Watson, Detroit City Council
10:53am Mike Duggan, Mayor, City of Detroit
10:57am Governor Rick Snyder, State of Michigan
11:03-11:08am Musical Tribute ................................................................................................................ Ariana Grande
1108-11:13am Musical Tribute............................................................................................................. The Clark Sisters
11:13am-11:18am Acknowledgements and Condolences ..............................................................Barbara Sampson
11:18-11:23am Musical Tribute… ................................................. The Williams Brothers & Vanessa Bell Armstrong
11:23-11:40am Family Reflections .......................................................... Vaughn, Cristal, Victorie & Jordan Franklin
11:40-11:45am Family Musical Tribute ................................................................................................ Edward Franklin
11:45-11:50am Obituary .......................................................................................................................... Sabrina Owens
11:50-11:55am Musical Tribute ................................................................................................ Alice McAllister Tillman
11:55-12:00pm Musical Tribute ................................................................................................... Audrey DuBois Harris
12:00-12:15pm Personal Remarks:
12:00pm Eric Holder, Former U.S. Attorney General
12:05pm Senator Gary Peters, State of Michigan
12:10pm Former President, William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton

 12:15-12:19pm Musical Tribute .................................................... Pastor Shirley Caesar and Tasha Cobbs-Leonard
12:19-12:36pm Personal Reflections :
12:19pm Greg Mathis, Retired Judge, 36th District Court, Detroit, MI
12:23pm Brenda Lawrence, State Representative, 14th Congressional District
12:27pm Rev. Donald L. Parsons, Logos Assembly Church, Chicago, IL
12:31pm Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder, National Action Network
12:36-12:41pm Musical Tribute .................................................................................................................... Chaka Khan
12:41-12:51pm Musical Tribute ........................................................................................................................ Ron Isley
12:51pm Rev. Jesse Jackson, Founder/President Rainbow P.U.S.H. Coalition
1:00pm Dr. William J. Barber, II, Pastor, Greenleaf Christian Church, Goldsborough N.C
1:05pm Rev. James Holley, Retired Pastor, New Light Missionary Baptist Church
1:10-1:15pm Musical Tribute .................................................................................................... Fantasia Barrino-Taylor
1:15-1:30pm Personal Reflections :
1:15pm Tyler Perry
1:17pm Cicely Tyson, Actress
1:20pm Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music
1:25pm Smokey Robinson, Recording Artist
1:30-1:34pm Musical Tribute ....................................................................... Bishop Paul Morton and Yolanda Adams
1:34-1:53pm Personal Reflections :
1:34pm Mildred Gaddis, Radio Personality
1:38pm Isaiah Thomas, Former NBA Player, Detroit Pistons
1:42pm Ron Moten, Personal Friend, Franchise Owner, McDonald’s Restaurants
1:48pm Michael Eric Dyson, Professor of Sociology, Georgetown University
1:53-2:00pm Musical Tribute ................................. Bishop Marvin Sapp and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir
2:00-2:05pm Sermonic Selection ......................................................................................................... Jennifer Hudson
2:05-2:35pm Eulogy ....................................... Rev. Jasper Williams, Jr., Pastor, Salem Baptist Church, Atlanta GA
2:35-2:45pm Musical Tribute ....................................................................... Stevie Wonder joined by National Artists
2:45-3:00pm Recessional.............................................Jennifer Holliday and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir