Aretha Franklin funeral set for Aug. 31 at Detroit's Greater Grace Temple

DETROIT (WJBK) - The dates of the funeral for the Queen of Soul have been set in stone, according to the late singer's publicist.

Aretha Franklin's funeral will be held August 31 in Detroit, her publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn, said Friday. The funeral will be held at Greater Grace Temple and is limited to Aretha's family and friends.

Public viewings will take place Aug. 28-29 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. An additional viewing has been added for Thursday, August 30 at New Bethel Baptist Church from noon to 4 p.m. 

Franklin will be entombed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, along with her father Rev. C.L. Franklin; sisters Carolyn Franklin and Erma Franklin; brother Cecil Franklin; and nephew Thomas Garrett. 

Franklin died Thursday at her home in Detroit from pancreatic cancer. She was 76.

A memorial concert is also in the works. 

The same farewell was given to civil rights icon Rosa Parks in 2005. Her body lied in repose at the museum, followed by her funeral at Greater Grace Temple. Thousands came to pay their respects, and the same is anticipated for Franklin. 

Franklin was born in Memphis, Tenn. on March 25, 1942. Her family made Detroit their home just a few short years later and she grew up singing in her dad's house of worship, New Bethel Baptist Church on Linwood. Fans have been paying their respect by leaving balloons and flowers outside the church. 

Franklin's records sold millions of copies and the music industry couldn't honor her enough. She won 18 Grammy awards. In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 2005 she was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's greatest honor.