As mourners descend on Detroit, Mich. to pay their final respects to Aretha Franklin, those passing through for her viewing are seeing the Queen of Soul in her casket dressed in all red.
Reports indicate that Franklin is wearing a red evening dress and red high heels as her body lays in state in a gold casket at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. Franklin is wearing the color signifying her membership to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. whose colors are Crimson and Cream, according to reports.
According to the sorority, Franklin was initiated as an honorary member in 1992 in New York City.
“We are honored to have had her as part of our illustrious sisterhood,” said Beverly E. Smith, Delta Sigma Theta National President and CEO. “We salute her memory.”
Hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta attended Franklin’s Omega Omega ceremony Tuesday night at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The ceremony is traditional for the sorority when members pass away. Franklin’s family and friends also attended the service.
Fans viewed Franklin’s body at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History on Tuesday and again from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday. A free tribute concert is taking place on Thursday at Chene Park in Detroit. Her private funeral is scheduled for Friday at Greater Grace Temple Church.
Delta Sigma Theta is the largest African-American Greek-lettered organization with over 300,000 members. The organization was founded in 1913 at Howard University.