Celebrating Whitney

Bobby Brown, other celebs arrive at Houston funeral

By Phil Gast and Jason Carroll, CNN

updated 12:09 PM EST, Sat February 18, 2012


For complete coverage of Whitney Houston's death, tune in to CNN and HLN. On Saturday, watch Houston's funeral live starting at 11 a.m. ET on CNN TV, CNN.com/live, and the CNN mobile apps.

Newark, New Jersey (CNN) -- Hand-clapping choirs performed gospel standards Saturday as celebrities and parishioners filled the New Jersey sanctuary where singer Whitney Houston will be remembered through song, tears and praise to the Lord.

Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Forest Whitaker, Spike Lee, Kevin Costner and Houston's former husband, Bobby Brown, were among those who arrived shortly before the noon homegoing service at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where Houston got her start in the choir.

Guests held in their hands an invitation with a cover featuring a photo of a smiling Houston. The six-page funeral program contained color family photos and a letter from Cissy Houston, the singer's mother.

The letter included the message, "God said 'It's time, Nippy (Whitney's childhood nickname). Your work is done.'" It was signed, "Thanks for being such a wonderful daughter. Love, Mommie."

"Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, who was scheduled to sing "The Greatest Love of All" at the service, is ill and will not perform, her representative said. Franklin performed a tribute to Houston Friday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

The service will feature performances by Stevie Wonder -- singing one of his hits, "Ribbon in the Sky" -- R&B star R. Kelly, Alicia Keys and gospel greats Kim Burrell and BeBe Winans.

The New Hope Baptist Church Mass Choir and the New Jersey Mass Choir will open the service. Pastor Marvin Winans will deliver the eulogy. Bishop T.D. Jakes will deliver remarks, along with Costner, Houston's co-star in the movie "The Bodyguard;" her mentor, music mogul Clive Davis; and director-producer Tyler Perry.

Patricia Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and former manager, will speak at the end of the service, followed by Houston's cousin, singer Dionne Warwick, according to the program.

Never-seen photos of teenage Whitney Houston

Under bright sunshine, a golden hearse with a black-and-white picture of Houston carried the singer's body to the red-brick church Saturday morning. She will be laid to rest Sunday at the Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, just south of Newark.

Balloons left in front of the church by adoring fans bobbed in a soft breeze.

A cake in the fellowship hall, given by fans, read, "The Greatest Love of All," the title of one of Houston's many hits. The heart-shaped cake was adorned with red roses and lilies.

Guests at the service arrived on a black carpet, went to the church fellowship hall and were escorted to their seats by ushers dressed in black suits and purple ties.

"There is a sense of sadness," the Rev. Jesse Jackson told HLN, CNN's sister network. "We lost a lot."

Some 1,500 people were expected at the service, which may have to be delayed because of the number of people. The service may last more than its scheduled three hours.

A perimeter was set up around the church by police, for four blocks in two directions and two blocks in the other directions. The closest the public was able to get is a staging area two blocks away.

Police said the best way for fans to share the experience was through television and the Internet.

Houston, the six-time Grammy Award winner and the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 hits, died a week ago in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 48.

Saturday, the story wasn't about Houston's reported drinking in the days before she died or about the prescription pills being tested as investigators seek a cause of her still-unexplained death at the Beverly Hilton.

In Newark, 2,700 miles away from Los Angeles, they were remembering the 11-year-old girl who followed in the footsteps of her mother by singing in the junior gospel choir. They were remembering Houston the superstar, returning for Easter Sunday services, never losing her roots after making it big.

They were remembering, through tears and joy, that incredible voice.

A belief in God and tradition permeated the funeral. In the words of Marvin Winans, "Faith plays a great part in how we cope with uncertainties in life. It is not something that we run from in difficulty, it is something we run to."

The Houston family opted to forgo a public memorial service.

They didn't "want to have a parade," Winans told CNN's Anderson Cooper. Their message, he said: "We want to do this with dignity."

Houston leaves behind an 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown; her mother; brothers; a cousin; and a host of relatives and friends.

Davis accompanied Cissy Houston and Bobbi Kristina to a private viewing Friday.

Pastor Winans' brother, Benjamin "BeBe" Winans, said his sister, CeCe, planned to perform "Don't Cry for Me" at the service.

Houston performed the song in many countries, Winans told A.J. Hammer of HLN's "Showbiz Tonight."

The song is about life, loss and hope:

"No one is to blame

"My death was meant to be

"Don't carry guilt or shame

"The reason why I came soon you'll see."

CNN's Jason Carroll reported from Newark and Phil Gast from Atlanta. CNN's Raelyn Johson, Denise Quan, Melissa Gray, K.J. Matthews, Chelsea J. Carter and Eden Pontz contributed to this report.