Whitney Houston's Funeral to be Held Saturday
Funeral at New Hope Baptist Church is invitation only
[Editor's note: This story originally published Feb. 13, 2012. It has since been updated.]
The funeral for Whitney Houston, who was found dead Saturday inside a Beverly Hills, Calif. hotel room, will be held Saturday at her childhood church in Newark.
The funeral, which will begin at noon at New Hope Baptist Church on Sussex Avenue, is invitation only and will not be open to media, according to Carolyn Whigham, owner of the Whigham Funeral Home, where Houston's body was brought late Monday.
Houston's body was flown from California to Teterboro Airport shortly before midnight Monday and brought to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. funeral home, which also handled Houston's father's funeral in 2003.
NJ.com previously reported Houston's funeral would be held at the Prudential Center to accommodate large crowds.
The Newark-born Houston started her singing career at age 11 as a member of New Hope Baptist Church's junior gospel choir. Outside the church Sunday, mourners paid tribute to the late singer during an early morning service.
A large crowd sang Houston's hit songs and held a candlelight vigil in her honor outside Whigham late Monday night.
Houston, 48, who suffered a long history of substance abuse, apparently drowned in a bathtub inside the Beverly Hilton Hotel after taking a cocktail of prescription drugs, according to reports. The cause of death is pending a toxicology report, which could take several weeks.
SGT ALFORD
9:09 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
Please allow us to sign Ms Houston's family book. It is so painful to know Whitney is gone but I know she is prayed up, that she loved God and no doubts God loved Whitney. I know God will comfort her kid, her mother, her family, her friends, and broken hearted folks like me who loved her, her voice, and her contributions to entertainment and our culture. The dash between 1963 to 2012 tells a story about a good person gone to soon. We will miss you, Whitney. Rest in peace Ms Whitney Houston until we meet again. SGT Alford US Army
Maria
10:05 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012
Words can not express what I feel right now. Whitney will always be loved and will never be forgotten. God bless you Whitney. I will miss you...Rest in peace. M.Dividu
Gloria
9:38 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
All of her songs were great and should have touched every ones heart. Especially I look to you