In the will, Aretha reveals Clarence’s father as Edward Jordan Sr. The man named on Clarence’s birth certificate is Donald Burk, who was a friend of Aretha’s from school. Jordan Sr. is also the father of Aretha’s second eldest son, Edward Jr. For a time, because he was named after his legendary grandfather, C.L. Franklin, many suspected that Clarence (pictured above right at Aretha’s funeral) was the product of incest. However, the reason she chose to name Burk as the father, as opposed to Jordan, was because he allegedly was a player. And now that the secret’s out, Aretha left very specific instructions for how Clarence should be cared for in her absence. In another part of the will (dated June 21, 2010) Black America Web reports that Aretha stated:
“His father, Edward Jordan Sr., should never receive or handle any money or property belonging to Clarence or that Clarence receives as he has never made any contribution to his welfare, future or past, monetarily, material, spiritual, etc.”
This must be devastating news for the entire family, who is still in mourning. Hopefully they will all be able to accept the truth and move on stronger as a family. It’s probably what Aretha would want anyway.
