Barbara Siggers Franklin was a talented gospel singer and pianist, who gave birth to one of the most iconic singers in history, Aretha Franklin. She was also the wife of C. L. Franklin, a prominent Baptist minister and civil rights activist. But her life was cut short by a tragic heart attack in 1952, when she was only 34 years old. What led to her untimely death and how did it affect her family? Here are some facts about Barbara Siggers Franklin and her cause of death.
Early Life and Marriage
Barbara Vernice Siggers was born on June 29, 1917, in Shelby, Mississippi. She grew up in a musical family and developed a passion for singing and playing the piano. She performed in church and later worked as a pianist.
She married Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, known as C. L., on June 3, 1936. He was a charismatic preacher who served in various churches in the South. The couple had four children: Erma (1938-2002), Cecil (1940-1989), Aretha (1942-2018), and Carolyn (1944-1988). Barbara also had a son, Vaughn (1934-2002), from a previous relationship, whom C. L. adopted shortly after their marriage.
Barbara was a gifted pianist and, according to Mahalia Jackson, one of the finest gospel singers in the country. Though her primary role was that of wife and mother, she actively participated in the musical affairs of the churches where C. L. served as pastor. She also taught her children to sing and play instruments.
Marital Trouble and Separation
However, Barbara’s marriage was not a happy one. C. L. was unfaithful to her and fathered several children with other women, including a daughter by a 12-year-old congregant in Memphis in 1940.Barbara endured his infidelities for years, but eventually decided to leave him in 1948. She moved to Buffalo, New York, where her mother resided and where C. L. had served as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church from May 1944 to June 1946.
She made a life for herself working in a music store, giving private music lessons, and training to be a nurse’s aide. She and C. L. never officially divorced. Although it was widely reported that she had deserted her children, Aretha Franklin disputed that claim, and Nick Salvatore of Cornell University took pains to discredit it in his biography of C. L. Franklin. According to Salvatore, she visited Detroit to see her children, and they traveled to Buffalo during summer vacations for stays with her.
Death and Legacy
Barbara Siggers Franklin died of a heart attack on March 7, 1952, at 34 years of age. Her death was a devastating blow to her family, especially to her daughter Aretha, who was barely 10 years old at the time. Aretha later said that losing her mother was “the beginning of my life being turned upside down.”
Barbara’s legacy lives on through her children, who became successful musicians in their own right. Aretha Franklin became the Queen of Soul and one of the most influential singers of all time. Erma Franklin and Carolyn Franklin were also acclaimed singers and songwriters. Cecil Franklin became a music manager and producer.
Barbara Siggers Franklin was also portrayed by Audra McDonald in the 2021 Aretha Franklin biopic Respect and by Antonique Smith in the third season of National Geographic series Genius: Aretha in 2021.
Barbara Siggers Franklin was an amazing woman who left behind a remarkable musical legacy. Her cause of death was a heart attack that took her away too soon from her loved ones. She is remembered as a loving mother, a talented singer, and a source of inspiration for many.
