Aretha Franklin fans line up to pay their respects at public viewing
A funeral will be held for the Queen of Soul on Friday
People are continuing to stream in for a second day to pay their respects to Aretha Franklin as she laid in repose in the rotunda of Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
The Queen of Soul's public viewing continued Wednesday, with fans queuing festively outside, then walking solemnly and single file into the museum. There, they found Franklin in her bronze casket in a sheer light blue dress and matching shoes, a change from the red outfit she wore on Tuesday.
On the inside of the lid embroidered into the fabric is "Aretha Franklin the Queen of Soul."
Gina Moorman attended Tuesday night's sorority ceremony in Franklin's honour and returned Wednesday. The 57-year-old Detroiter says, "I wanted to see her again."
A funeral will be held Friday for Franklin who died Aug. 16 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.
On Tuesday evening, hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta paid tribute to Franklin at a packed ceremony that capped a day of mourning.
The sorority's traditional Omega Omega service lasted nearly an hour, saluting Franklin with song, scripture and words. Franklin was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta as an honorary member in 1992. She was remembered for her regal presence and love of her community — traits they say embody the organization's virtues.
A sea of women wearing black, many with African violet corsages and pearl necklaces, lead a procession into the rotunda of the Wright Museum. More than 1,000 people attended the service.
The Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday that an exhibition called Think, paying tribute to Franklin, will open Sept. 21 at the Wright Museum. It will run until Jan. 21, 2019.
Swift honours Queen of Soul
Singer Taylor Swift honoured Aretha Franklin with a moment of silence during a concert in the Queen of Soul's hometown.
Swift told a sold-out crowd at Detroit's Ford Field on Tuesday that Franklin did so much for music, women's rights and civil rights. Swift said words could never describe how many things Franklin did that made the world a better place.
The pop star asked for a moment of silence so "every single one of us could reflect on our love and respect for her." After asking for the lights to go out, Swift said, "We love you Aretha."