Our deep prayers & love are with the family of Sister Aretha as she sings & dances on the rhythms of grace to join the choir of heaven in the glory of God’s Presence. “Come unto me all ye that are heavy burdened & I will give you rest."
I will never forget after speaking at the DNC in 2016, I received a call from Aretha. I thought it was a joke, & I said, “Is this really Aretha Franklin?” She said, “Is this really Rev Barber?”
I was honored to preach for a service she had at her father’s former church & also had the opportunity from time to time to call & talk with her. Every call began with, “Is this really Aretha Franklin?” And her response: “Is this really Rev Barber?”
Her music lifted us, challenged us, made us dance and cry. God gifted her in a way to sing from her soul. She touched us when she sang & the meaning & power of the music ran from "heart to heart and breast to breast."
