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    Aretha Franklin’s Celebration of Life Service Will Air Uninterrupted on The Word Network

    Aretha Franklin

    Today, The Word Network announced it would air Aretha Franklin’s celebration of life service in its entirety. The Service will begin at 10:00am EST. on Friday, August 31st.

    The Word Network - Aretha Franklin Celebration of Life Services

    “We are very appreciative to receive the support of The Word Network in ensuring that the ENTIRE Celebration Of Life Service for Ms. Aretha Franklin will be aired uninterrupted.  The Word Network will graciously provide a live feed to all other Networks and Broadcast carriers authorized by the Franklin family,” stated Bishop Charles Ellis III of Greater Grace Temple.

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    The Celebration of Life will take place Friday, Aug. 31, from Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple and officiated by Bishop Ellis along with Rev. Robert Smith. The eulogy will be delivered by Rev. Jasper Williams, Jr., Senior Pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA.

    Order of Service:

    • 9:30-9:50 a.m.: Musical Prelude: Aretha Franklin Orchestra
    • 9:50-10:00 a.m.: Lighting of Candles: Swanson Funeral Home, Inc.
    • 10:00-10:20 a.m.: Processional: Clergy, Ministers and Family
    • 10:20-10:25 a.m.: Prayer of Comfort: Dr. E.L. Branch, Pastor, Third New Hope Church
    • 10:25-10:40 a.m.: Scripture of Comfort:
      • 10:25 a.m.: Old Testament: Bishop T.D. Jakes, Potter’s House, Dallas, TX
      • 10:30 a.m.: New Testament: Pastor Solomon Kinloch, Triumph Church
      • 10:35 a.m.: The Psalm: Bishop P.A. Brooks, Pastor, New St. Paul Tabernacle Church
    • 10:40-10:45 a.m.: Musical Tribute: Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir
    • 10:45-10:49 a.m.: Musical Tribute: Faith Hill
    • 10:49-11:03 a.m.: Remarks:
      • 10:49 a.m.: Brenda Jones, City Council President
      • 10:51 a.m.: JoAnn Watson, Detroit City Council
      • 10:53 a.m.: Mike Duggan, Mayor, City of Detroit
      • 10:57 a.m.: Governor Rick Snyder, State of Michigan
    • 11:03-11:08 a.m.: Musical Tribute: Ariana Grande
    • 1108-11:13 a.m.: Musical Tribute: The Clark Sisters
    • 11:13-11:18 a.m: Acknowledgements and Condolences: Barbara Sampson
    • 11:18-11:23 a.m.: Musical Tribute: The Williams Brothers & Vanessa Bell Armstrong
    • 11:23-11:40 a.m.: Family Reflections: Vaughn, Cristal, Victorie & Jordan Franklin
    • 11:40-11:45 a.m.: Family Musical Tribute: Edward Franklin
    • 11:45-11:50 a.m.: Obituary: Sabrina Owens
    • 11:50-11:55 a.m.: Musical Tribute: Alice McAllister Tillman
    • 11:55-12:00 p.m.: Musical Tribute: Audrey DuBois Harris
    • 12:00-12:15 p.m.: Personal Remarks:
      • 12:00 p.m.: Eric Holder, Former U.S. Attorney General
      • 12:05 p.m.: Senator Gary Peters, State of Michigan
      • 12:10 p.m.: Former President, William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton
    • 12:15-12:19 p.m.: Musical Tribute: Pastor Shirley Caesar and Tasha Cobbs-Leonard
    • 12:19-12:36 p.m.: Personal Reflections :
      • 12:19 p.m.: Greg Mathis, Retired Judge, 36th District Court, Detroit, MI
      • 12:23 p.m.: Brenda Lawrence, State Representative, 14th Congressional District
      • 12:27 p.m.: Rev. Donald L. Parsons, Logos Assembly Church, Chicago, IL
      • 12:31 p.m.: Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder, National Action Network
    • 12:36-12:41 p.m.: Musical Tribute: Chaka Khan
    • 12:41-12:51 p.m.: Musical Tribute: Ron Isley
    • 12:51 p.m.: Rev. Jesse Jackson, Founder/President Rainbow P.U.S.H. Coalition
    • 1:00 p.m.: Dr. William J. Barber, II, Pastor, Greenleaf Christian Church, Goldsborough N.C
    • 1:05 p.m.: Rev. James Holley, Retired Pastor, New Light Missionary Baptist Church
    • 1:10-1:15 p.m.: Musical Tribute: Fantasia Barrino-Taylor
    • 1:15-1:30 p.m: Personal Reflections :
      • 1:15 p.m.: Tyler Perry
      • 1:17 p.m.: Cicely Tyson, Actress
      • 1:20 p.m.: Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music
      • 1:25 p.m.: Smokey Robinson, Recording Artist
    • 1:30-1:34 p.m.: Musical Tribute: Bishop Paul Morton and Yolanda Adams
    • 1:34-1:53 p.m.: Personal Reflections :
      • 1:34 p.m.: Mildred Gaddis, Radio Personality
      • 1:38 p.m.: Isaiah Thomas, Former NBA Player, Detroit Pistons
      • 1:42 p.m.: Ron Moten, Personal Friend, Franchise Owner, McDonald’s Restaurants
      • 1:48 p.m.: Michael Eric Dyson, Professor of Sociology, Georgetown University
    • 1:53-2:00 p.m.: Musical Tribute: Bishop Marvin Sapp and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir
    • 2:00-2:05 p.m.: Sermonic Selection: Jennifer Hudson
    • 2:05-2:35 p.m.: Eulogy: Rev. Jasper Williams, Jr., Pastor, Salem Baptist Church, Atlanta GA
    • 2:35-2:45 p.m.: Musical Tribute: Stevie Wonder joined by National Artists
    • 2:45-3:00 p.m.: Recessional: Jennifer Holliday and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir

    Aretha Franklin, 76, passed away August 16th following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

    Check local listings for The Word Network channel – viewers will also be able to watch online at http://thewordnetwork.org

     

    Photograph courtesy of the Associated Press

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