More than just the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin embodied female empowerment, was a civil rights activist, a god-fearing woman and to many, Auntie ReRe.

She was — and always will be — the Soul of Detroit.

People from all over the world came to Detroit to celebrate Aretha Franklin’s life after her passing on August 16, 2018. For two weeks, the doors at New Bethel Baptist Church, her father’s church, would be blocked by signs, flowers and other mementos left by fans and loved ones.

For three days visitors to the Charles H. Wright Museum and New Bethel Baptist Church were allowed to pay final respects to the Queen of Soul, where she lay in her spectacular gold casket, dressed to the nines with more outfit changes than an award show host. The lines around each building wrapped for blocks, but people waiting in line were full of life and song as they waited their turn to walk past Ms. Franklin.

After her funeral, the procession of pink Cadillacs led the 1940 LaSalle hearse, which also transported her father, Rev. C.L. Franklin, Rosa Parks and several other notable Detroiters to their final resting places. Aretha Franklin is entombed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, alongside her father and sisters,Carolyn Franklin and Erma Franklin.