Fans pay respect to the Queen of Soul outside her Detroit church

Fans continue to gather outside Aretha Franklin's hometown church in Detroit as the world says goodbye to the Queen of Soul.

Although she was born in Memphis, Detroit has been her home since she was a child and you could say she was raised by the church where her father served as a reverend.

The memorial outside New Bethel Baptist Church grew by the hour as Franklin's fans and old friends came by to pay their respects.

"I'm just devastated. I cried all day. I didn't go to work today because of this. I mean, a legend. A legend. She never left Detroit," said Latrice Foster. "Regardless of what she stayed with her city. A lot of em came out of Detroit but they left Detroit. Not the queen. She stayed here."

Linda Boyd grew up in the same westside Detroit neighborhood as Franklin. News of her passing was crushing.

"My heart is hurt today. I'm just here. I love her, I love her. I'll never forget her," she said.

Franklin's career spanned decades. Her voice and music was a part of the soundtrack to American history.

Her legacy will live on through her music and in part in the next generation of Detroit soul singersfollowing in her footsteps.

"She represents music. Black soulful music. Legendary music. Music that you don't really hear today. The music that needs to come back to Detroit, to America," said Jaliyah and Jamyla Turner.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced but sources say it will be held at a number of venues and will span several days.