Carl Ellan Kelley, born on November 17, 1940, in Memphis, Tennessee, was the daughter of the famous preacher and civil rights activist Rev. C. L. Franklin. Rather than specific accomplishments in conventional professional or public contexts, she lived a life that was characterized by tragedy, resiliency, and dignity. Her life was shrouded in mystery, and she managed to maintain her privacy, avoiding the media glare that frequently surrounded her family.