Whitney Houston's Casket Carried Out to "I Will Always Love You"
Credit: Kevin Mazur/AMA2009/WireImage
Whitney Houston's 1992 classic rendition of "I Will Always Love You" touched many souls, which makes it the appropriate closing song to see her off.
As the pallbearers gathered to carry the gleaming silver casket containing the late singer's body out of the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ on Saturday, the famous opening chords of Houston's most famous ballad began to ring out inside the venue that sat 1,500.
PHOTOS: Whitney and Bobby's family album
Houston's mother Cissy followed directly behind her daughter's casket while the first three rows of guests proceeded her, including Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Kevin Costner, Alicia Keys, Reverend Jesse Jackson and Reverend Al Sharpton along with Houston's close family and friends.
PHOTOS: Whitney Houston, 1963-2012
The event's program referred to the late star's funeral as a "going home" ceremony. Beginning at 12/11c, the services, which were live broadcast by the Associated Press, wrapped about three and a half hours later.
Narada Michael Walden, who produced Houston's hit "How Will I Know," described the ceremony to Us Weekly as, "soulful, tearful and happy at the same time. A real celebration of her life. She's safe in the lord's hands now."
VIDEO: Whitney's ups and downs
Houston will be laid to rest during a private burial at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, NJ, where she will be buried next to her father, John Houston.
Tell Us What You Think
72very sad for all of them
Oh Lord please let this child of yours rest in peace.
Judge Ye Not,Rest in Peace Nippy!
Tina Fulcher, After reading what you said, Posted on Whitney Houston. Well thats it , It was enough said. May Jehovah GOD Bless and keep you always.
O wow, there are no words that can express how i'm feeling about the loss of this beautiful and loving woman, whom touched so many hearts through out the years. I was 17 years old when this icon hit the music scene with You Give Good Love To Me, and with a voice that sent chills through my whole entire soul, now 43, i'm so happy that i was a part of Whitney's journey, from the begining until her unexpected ended. My prayers goes out to miss Cissy, Bobby Kristina and the Houston family, my heart aches so much, because i know what Kristina is going through, because i lost my mother who was 49 and passed so suddenly, so i really feel her pain. I don't even remember crying because of so many people that were there, i also had to leave everyone so i could have a moment for myself. For the days to come, it will get better the family and fans. So let us all remember that her family will see her again in the new world under better conditions, as promised by Jehovah God. With Bobby Brown in mind, let's not forget that he's suffering too, of the loss of his ex-wife, whom he had good times and bad times with, we all make mistakes in life, so no one has the right to judge anyone, unless you're perfect and hasn't done a single thing in life that's wrong, but we know that's impossible. So these last days we have here in this system should be thanking our heavenly Father everyday for the breath of life, and to forgive us for sins, as we should forgive also, and not criticizing one another, but be up building and up lifting, when and where ever we can to those around us. Whitney will still be loved and missed, see you soon. Thank You
The night before, Bobbi Kristina, who had just finished high schook, had hit a bar with her mother. "Whitney and Bobbi Kristina always partied together," says a source. "They were like best friends more than mother and daughter." You see you cannot just LEAVE IT TO GOD you must act as God's hand and raise your child properly and if you are not strong enough to straighten up and be a role model then find someone else to raise the child.
Pat, Not taking responsibility for your actions is why we have so much crime and addiction. If you choose to have children you do not just continue bad behavior and say oh God will take care of everything . We have been given a brain to use it to be the best we can be. I am sorry for Whitney and Bobbi K but you cannot just say I will leave it all up to the Lord, you must take responsibility for your self and your child. No one is responsible for our mistakes but our selves
Wait a minute, Narada Michael Walden was there? Where has he been? Haven't heard from him in a thousand years. Good that he's still with us, cause u know sometimes these people pass and we don't hear squat about it.
Hey Whitney, Big Blue won the Superbowl for YOU! We will sing of you now. We will sing WITH you soon. Say hi to my mom and dad for me, please. Gotta sign off. Crying...
We will miss you Whitney, many untold millions of fans like me. Our love is with you still. I see some criticize her here, but that is not right. Have and show respect and love for all the good that she was and imparted to us all.
she was my favorite singer and always be .THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL and I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU ARE MY TRUE LEITMOTIV in life .WHITNEY rest in peace
God is the ONLY judge and He forgives ..... a lot of people need to remember how addictive drugs are and if you didn't live with Whitney or her daughter, you don't know how she was. God loves her NO MATTER WHAT!
JESUS SAID: HE WHOM IS FORGIVEN MUCH, LOVES MUCH!!! Whitney MUCH LOVED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, because she knew she needed him. THE LORD JESUS THE CHRIST SAID: I DID NOT COME FOR THOSE WHO ARE WELL, BUT I CAME FOR THE SICK. Meaning, if you got your "act together (so you think)" GOD says HE DID NOT COME TO SAVE YOU, but HE CAME TO SAVE A SOUL EXACTLY LIKE WHITNEY'S!!! :) The one who NEEDED HIM to SAVE HER. I love the part when Whitney's friend or family member said that Whitney said: "However, The Lord FIX me, Let HIM FIX me." THAT IS ESSENCE AND HEART OF TRUE FAITH, WORSHIP and WALK of THE TRUE SERVANT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. JESUS SAID: "A broken spirit and a contrite heart -- HE WILL NOT DESPISE." THANK YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST -- WHITNEY WAS TRULY YOUR CHILD. Although in BY HER LIFE she could NOT bring many to you, yet, you saw GOOD FIT, that BY HER DEATH -- You would bring a HARVEST OF HEARTS & SOULS to YOU!! Whitney's LIFE and her FAITH is a TESTIMONY. Whitney was NO HYPOCRITE -- THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE JUSTINA FOSTER -- Whitney had enough sense to KNOW SHE WAS SICK and that SHE NEEDED THE SAVIOR. How about you?
Just face it , the whole time Whitney carried her raggedy Bible around quoting scriptures she was also swigging booze and pills and who knows what else. She was a hypocrite who cared more about the drugs than her kid. Instead of talking about Jesus to everyone she came upon maybe the heavenly father wanted her to do right by Bobbi Kristina and give the talks and sober attention she needed to become a whole person not the broken child of an addict who had a CHOICE.
This was a very sad moment but the absolute perfect song. My heart just sunk as her casket proped upon the shoulders of the palbearers and were proceeding down the ailse. I looked and seen her daughter, those memories of when I myself was a 15 year old and in this very same situation. This is one lost little girl right and she need all of the support she can get right now, from Bobby and the Huston's. God Bless them all! RIP Whitney.
Whitney you have been truly been an inspiration to me your songs motivate me to get through hard times and your voice uplifts me. I know that you are in a better place and I will remember you as the diva and queen you are your voice is like no other and I will always love your music. RIP WHITNEY I LOVE YOU!!
Whitney Houston was truely an angel,she just got on the wrong road.R.I.P WHITNEY
the loss of this great talent and beautiful woman is truly sad.I expect the liberal media to insult her faith,that of being a christain,because of how she died,but they dont realize they will stand before the same Lord God on judgement day.Goodbye Whitney,until I see you in heaven someday singing praises to the King.
Everyone has a past so how would you feel if somebody constantly threw it up in your or your family faces. People need to "Let Go and Let God" because if you truly loved Whitney it does not matter about anything else and simply rejoice in knowing she is at peace and pray that one day you will be allowed into God's heavenly choir. Yes, Bobby has a part in this because they had vows but if you believe in scripture then you know they exemplified what you are supposed to do as a husband and wife, whether wrong or right so ease up on him cause he did not kill her, God called her home. Remember people her daughter reads these tributes and the constant reminder of what fans call a destruction is her real life and family. Just pray for them and keep your judgemental opinions to yourself. RIP Whitney Houston with much love
I only hope that now we wont have the usual muck racking when a celebraty dies. Leave her in peace now that she has gone.