Whitney Elizabeth Houston was laid to rest Saturday in Westfield, NJ after a 4 hour service in her Newark, NJ home town. The private service was held at the New Hop Baptist church wear Whitney attended as a child and honed her ability to sing beyond belief.
The service, lead by Reverend Marvin Winans, was attended by many celebrity friends and family. Stars like Tyler Perry, Kevin Costner, Clive Davis, and even cousin and singer Dionne Warwick shared some kind and even inspirational words of the late singer.
After sharing some of his fondest memories of Whitney Perry stated, “The other thing I know for sure – and this is more important than anything that she’s done in her life – Whitney Houston loved the lord.”
Cosner gave his own inspiring speech, detailing a vulnerable side of Whitney not many knew.
“It was the burden that made her great and the part that caused her to stumble in the end,” he said.
“The inexplicable burden that comes with fame. Call it doubt. Call it fear. I’ve had mine. I know the famous in the room have had theirs. Maybe they’re thinking they aren’t good enough. I think Whitney would tell you: Guard your bodies. Guard the precious miracle of your life. Then sing your hearts out, knowing that there’s a lady in heaven who’s making God himself wonder how He created something so perfect.”
Unfortunately Houston’s God-mother Aretha Franklin was unable to attend the service. She released an official statement below. She says,
“Regretfully, I am so sorry that I was unable to be with you at Whitney’s service today. I had every intention of being there. But unfortunately I had terrible leg spasms and locked leg muscles until 4 a.m. this morning following my concert last night, which I’ve been having for the last few days.”
Singers including Alicia Keys, Steve Wonder, R. Kelly, BeBe and CeCe Winans and Kim Barrell moved the crowd inspirational songs.
Hundreds of fans also gathered outside the show to show their love and express the grief over the lost of Houston, raising banners of lovely message of photos of the late singer.
She was laid to rest next to her father the late, John Russell Houston, who passed in 2003.
