Last week an Atlanta pastor delivered a eulogy at Aretha Franklin’s funeral, and her family was not happy about it. They said they found the eulogy to be offensive and distasteful. Rev. Jasper Williams Jr. was also criticized for a political speech that described children being without a father as “abortion after birth” and said black lives wont matter until black people stop killing each other.
“He spoke for 50 minutes and at no time did he properly eulogize her,” said Vaughn Franklin, Aretha’s nephew, who delivered a statement for the family. Franklin said that his aunt never asked for Williams to eulogize her, and never talked about plans for her own funeral. Williams was selected because he had spoken at other family memorials in the past.
At the funeral itself, Stevie Wonder yelled out “black lives matter” after the pastor said, “No, black lives do not matter” during his eulogy. Williams said he respects the family’s opinion, “I understand it. I regret it, but I’m sorry they feel that way.”
