After a rousing performance by the choir of
the New Hope Baptist Church, A. Curtis Pharaoh, the church’s minister of
music, introduced Newark Mayor Corey Booker.
“We are here to mourn our loss, but to
celebrate her life,” Booker said. “God is in heaven, and with him is one
of our angels, Whitney Houston.”
After several inspirational musical numbers
and scripture readings from the church members, Houston's aunt, the
singer Dionne Warwick, thanked those gathered for attending, and
introduced actor and producer Tyler Perry.
Perry recounted a dinner he had with Houston in Atlanta years ago where he first became aware of Houston's spiritual side.
"It was at that moment I knew I would do all
I can to stand with her," he said. "There was a grace that carried her
from heaven down through Miss Cissy Houston ... A grace that carried her
to the top of the charts. The other thing I know for sure ... Whitney
Houston loved the Lord."
Gospel star Bebe Winans was the first of several scheduled gospel and pop stars to perform.
"What I'm going to miss, is crazy Whitney,"
Winans said before singing, recounting a story of how Houston, at the
top of her fame, said she wanted to open for him and his wife Cece,
"Because you're broke, right?" that had the church laughing
uproariously.
Several more music and entertainment stars
were also there to say good-bye to their friend, including her ‘My
Bodyguard’ co-star Kevin Costner, talk show titan Oprah Winfrey, singer
Mariah Carey, and actor Forest Whitaker.
Houston’s much-maligned ex-husband, Bobby
Brown, and their daughter, Bobbi Kristina were in attendance as well.
Brown was scheduled to perform with his band in Connecticut later
Saturday evening.
Aretha Franklin, whom Houston lovingly called "Aunt Ree," had been expected to sing at the service, but fell ill.
"Regretfully, I am so sorry that I was
unable to be with you at Whitney's service today," Frankin said in a
statement. "I had every intention of being there. But unfortunately I
had terrible leg spasms and locked leg muscles until 4:00 a.m. this
morning following my concert last night, which I've been having for the
last few days."
The service marked exactly one week after
the 48-year-old Houston -- one of music's all-time biggest stars -- was
found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel in California. A cause of death has
yet to be determined.
Houston's death at the age of 48 marked the
final chapter for the superstar whose fall from grace while shocking was
years in the making. Houston had her first No. 1 hit by the time she
was 22, followed by a flurry of No. 1 songs and multi-platinum records.
Over her career, she sold more than 50
million records in the United States alone. Her voice, an ideal blend of
power, grace and beauty, made classics out of songs like "Saving All My
Love For You," `'I Will Always Love You," `'The Greatest Love of All"
and "I'm Every Woman." Her six Grammys were only a fraction of her many
awards.
But amid the fame, a turbulent marriage to
Brown and her addiction to drugs tarnished her image. She became a woman
falling apart in front of the world.
Her last album, "I Look To You," debuted on
the top of the charts when it was released in 2009 with strong sales,
but didn't have the staying power of her previous records. A tour the
next year was doomed by cancellations because of illness and sub-par
performances.
Still, a comeback was ahead: She was to star
in the remake of the movie "Sparkle" and was working on new music. Her
family, friends and hard-core fans were hopeful.
Houston is to be buried next to her father, John Houston, in nearby Westfield, N.J.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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