South Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Birthplace of Aretha Franklin

Photographed by Steve Masler, August 3, 2017

1. Birthplace of Aretha Franklin Marker

Inscription. Aretha Franklin was born in this house on March 25, 1942, to Baptist Bishop C.L. and Barbara Franklin. Ms. Franklin is an American singer, songwriter and musician. She began her career as a child singing gospel at her father's church, New Salem Baptist, located not far from here on Latham Street. At the age of 18, Ms. Franklin embarked on a secular career. She would leave Memphis and go on to become one of America's greatest singers. Memphis, Tennessee loves and honors our hometown singer the "Queen of Soul", Ms. Aretha Franklin.

Erected 2017 by The City of Memphis.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1942.

Location. 35° 6.848′ N, 90° 2.925′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in South Memphis. It is at the intersection of Lucy Street, on the left when traveling east on Lucy Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 402 Lucy Avenue, Memphis TN 38106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Willie Mitchell's Royal Studios (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mason Temple (approx. half a mile away); Bishop Charles Harrison Mason

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(approx. half a mile away); WHER - The Nation's First All Girl Radio Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); Robert Karriem (approx. 0.6 miles away); Dr. Joseph Edison Walker (approx. 0.7 miles away); People's Grocery (approx. 0.7 miles away); The University of West Tennessee (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Also see . . .
1. Memphis Officials to Help Save Aretha Franklin's Birthplace. Billboard Magazine website entry (Submitted on August 3, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee.)

2. Judge Postpones Demolition of Aretha Franklin’s Memphis Home. 101.5 FM Radio entry, February 19, 2025 (Submitted on February 5, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

3. Aretha Franklin at Wikipedia. Excerpt:

Aretha's father’s emotionally driven sermons resulted in his being known as the man with the “million-dollar voice.” He earned thousands of dollars for sermons in various churches across the country. His fame led to his home being visited by various celebrities. Among the visitors were gospel musicians Clara Ward, James Cleveland, and early Caravans members Albertina Walker and Inez Andrews. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke all
Photographed by Steve Masler, August 3, 2017

2. Birthplace of Aretha Franklin Marker
became friends of C. L. Franklin, as well.

(Submitted on March 25, 2023.)

Birthplace of Aretha Franklin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Masler, August 3, 2017

3. Birthplace of Aretha Franklin

Photographed by Steve Masler, August 3, 2017

4. Birthplace of Aretha Franklin

Photographed by Steve Masler, August 3, 2017

5. Birthplace of Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin in 1967 image. Click for full size.

Atlantic Records trade ad photo (CC0 1.0) via Wikimedia Commons, July 15, 1967

6. Aretha Franklin in 1967

Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 3,112 times since then and 127 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 3, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. 6. submitted on March 25, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.