Whitney Houston’s funeral will be held Saturday at her childhood church, New Hope Baptist Church. Initially we were told it would be held at the 18,000-seat Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., the city where the star was born. The church seats about 300 and the funeral will be invite only. We’ll have to wait and see who makes the cut.
The Prudential Center showed Houston’s face in lights Monday night as a tribute to the singer, who was found dead in a hotel room in Los Angeles Saturday..
Her body was flown to New Jersey by movie producer Tyler Perry’s private plane Monday evening and arrived at Teterboro Airport just before 11 p.m.
A police escort traveled with Houston’s body to the Whigham Funeral Home, which is handling the arrangements, according to sources working with the family.
Houston was born in Newark and raised in East Orange. She got her start as a singer in the choir at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark.
Many said she never forgot her Jersey roots.
Her mother, Grammy award-winning gospel singer Cissy Houston, led the musical program at the 112-year-old church. Whitney’s cousin, singer Dionne Warwick, also sang in its choir. Mourners have been flocking to the church since the news of her death on Saturday.
“The Houston family means a lot to this community, they have done a lot for this community, and being there for them is the best thing we can do as a community today,” said 32 year old Shawn Cooper as he left an early morning service at the church on Sunday.
What do you think? Are you disappointed the funeral won’t be public?
Source: BlackMediaScoop
