Finding the Edward Jordan Sr date of birth feels a bit like chasing a ghost through the Detroit archives. You'd think the father of two of the Queen of Soul’s children would be a household name with a verified Wikipedia sidebar. Nope. Honestly, most people looking for this info end up more confused than when they started.
Is he the famous car mogul? No. The Formula One legend? Definitely not.
We’re talking about the man Aretha Franklin named in her handwritten wills—the one she rarely, if ever, spoke about during her legendary career. If you’re trying to pin down a specific day, month, and year for his birth, you’ve likely realized that public records are incredibly sparse.
Who was Edward Jordan Sr?
Most of what we know comes from the fallout of Aretha Franklin’s estate. When she passed in 2018, the world thought she died intestate (without a will). Then came the couch cushions. Researchers and family members found handwritten documents that flipped the narrative on its head.
In those papers, Aretha identified Edward Jordan Sr. as the father of her first two sons, Clarence and Edward. This was a massive shift. For decades, many believed Clarence’s father was a schoolmate named Donald Burk.
The documents didn't just name him; they painted a picture of a man who was largely absent. Aretha was remarkably blunt. She wrote that he "never made any contribution" to her children's welfare. We're talking "monetarily, material, or spiritual." Harsh, but presumably true.
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The Mystery of the Birth Date
So, why is the Edward Jordan Sr date of birth so hard to find?
Because he wasn't a celebrity. He wasn't a businessman with a public profile. He was described by biographer David Ritz as a "player" Aretha knew in her youth. Because he lived outside the limelight, there are no "Today in History" entries for him.
Based on the timeline of Aretha’s life—she had Clarence in 1955 at age 12 and Edward in 1957 at age 14—most historians and genealogists estimate Edward Jordan Sr. was likely born in the late 1930s or very early 1940s.
If he was a "player" or an older acquaintance at the time, he would have been a teenager or young adult in the mid-1950s. However, without a verified birth certificate or a public obituary that confirms the connection, any specific date you see online is usually a guess.
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Why People Get Confused
If you Google this name, you get a ton of "false positives."
- The Car Guy: Edward S. "Ned" Jordan. He was born in 1882. He founded the Jordan Motor Car Company. Definitely not our guy.
- The Irish Pirate: There was an Edward Jordan born in 1771 who was a fisherman and a rebel. Cool story, but irrelevant.
- The F1 Legend: Eddie Jordan. Born in 1948. Wrong country, wrong life.
Basically, the Edward Jordan Sr. connected to the Franklin family is a private individual from Detroit. The lack of data is intentional. Aretha was fiercely protective of her private life, especially her early pregnancies. She didn't want the world poking around into the details of her life as a 12-year-old mother.
The Legacy of the Name
Even if we don't have a cake and candles date for him, his name lives on through his sons.
Edward Franklin, the second son, actually took his father’s name. He became a gospel singer, often performing with his mother. He has that same powerhouse DNA. Clarence, the eldest, has faced health challenges throughout his life, and Aretha’s will specifically sought to protect him from his father ever gaining control over his inheritance.
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It’s a complicated, somewhat sad dynamic.
What We Can Actually Verify
If you're doing genealogy or just curious, here is the short list of what is factually known:
- He fathered Clarence Franklin (born 1955) and Edward Franklin (born 1957).
- He was living in Detroit during the mid-1950s.
- Aretha Franklin explicitly excluded him from her legacy in her 2010 will.
- He is referred to as "Sr." because his son, Edward, is technically the Jr. (though he uses the surname Franklin).
Real Talk on Finding the Date
Honestly, unless a family member releases a private record, the exact Edward Jordan Sr date of birth might stay a mystery. And maybe that's okay. In an era where every detail of a person's life is usually one click away, some people still manage to stay in the shadows.
If you're looking for this for legal or research reasons, your best bet is searching the Michigan birth and death indexes for the 1935–1942 range. But be warned: "Edward Jordan" is a surprisingly common name in Detroit.
Next Steps for Your Research
- Check the Will Records: If you're deep-diving, the Oakland County Probate Court records regarding the Aretha Franklin estate are the most "official" mentions of his name you'll find.
- Search Obituaries: Look for Detroit-based obituaries for Edward Jordans that mention children named Clarence or Edward, though keep in mind the sons used the name Franklin.
- Verify the Source: If a website gives you a specific date like "June 14, 1938," check if they are mixing him up with a local politician or athlete. They usually are.
The reality is that some figures in history are only known because of who they stood next to, not because they sought the spotlight themselves. Edward Jordan Sr. is the ultimate example of that.