It is so unfortunate that Whitney Houston has left so soon in a very sad disappearance, may her soul rest in eternal peace.
As one gets fed with news from different media outlets, will feel a sense of great love and inspiration that Whitney has sown into millions of people’s hearts across the whole earth.
Unfortunately it is the kind of such huge and much love that she cannot get or feel, of which am sure she did not either get it realize when she was still alive.
Kevin Costner paid tribute to his co-star from The Bodyguard, and friend Whitney Houston at her funeral, held in New Jersey this Saturday, and almost was pretty broken up watching him fight back the tears during her remembrance.
The funeral was held at New Hope Baptist Church, in Newark, New Jersey where the high tone voiced singer first sung in a choir and also where her mother Jennifer Houston usually went for daily spiritual renewal in Sunday services.
“I never told you that when you were born, the Holy Spirit told me that you would not be with me long,” her mother wrote to her daughter in a letter published in the program distributed among people that had turned up for the funeral.
“And I thank God for the beautiful flower he allowed me to raise and cherish for 48 years. Rest, my baby girl, in peace,” the letter ends, signed “mommie.”
One of the huge fans of the deceased great singer, Mory Tamba Morris Toundoufedouno, Correspondent at BBC Afrique disbelieved how soon Whitney left.
“It’s how life goes! May your soul rest in perfect peace! And we shall meet one of thoz dayz. Definitely in HEAVENS, Amen!,” Toundoufedouno wrote on a page created to remember Whitney on Facebook.
“I’ve found this tribute made to Whitney in 2010, by her fans who always supported her in the midst of all she’s been through and in spite of the splash the press made on her trials. Dear Whitney…Your voice, your spirit, your smile (which causes your eyes to twinkle), will be in our memories and hearts endlessly. You have certainly created something everlasting. My Love and embrace to the family RIP Whitney!,” said Paulo Mesquita a Spanish scholar.
The biggest names in entertainment clapped hands, swayed to gospel hymns and sang along with the choir at Whitney Houston’s hometown funeral this Saturday in the church where the deceased pop star once wowed the congregation as a young girl.
“We are here today, hearts broken but yet with God’s strength we celebrate the life of Whitney Houston,” the Rev. Joe A. Carter told the packed New Hope Baptist Church after the choir behind him sang “The Lord is My Shepherd.”
Mourners including singer Jennifer Hudson and Houston’s mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, stood, swayed and clapped along in the aisles.
Gospel singers BeBe and CeCe Winans and the Rev. Kim Burrell joined with pop stars like Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, and R. Kelly in paying tribute to the 48-year-old pop superstar who first began singing in the Newark church.
The service had lighthearted moments too – Kevin Costner imagining a young Houston using her winning smile to get out of trouble, Houston’s cousin Dionne Warwick offering short insights about the singer.
Others were more mournful; singer Ray J., who spent time with Houston during her last days, broke down crying.
His sister, singer Brandy, put her arm around him. Cissy Houston and Houston’s daughter, 18-year-old Bobbi Kristina, clutched each other in the front of the church.
Toward the end of the service, Bobbi Kristina and Ray J. embraced at length and spoke. Others gathered near the front of the church and hugged each other.
The most powerful moment was reserved for the end. As Houston’s silver casket was carried out, her hit “I Will Always Love You” played. Bobbi Kristina began crying, and the sobs of Houston’s mother rang throughout the church.
“My baby!” Whitney’s mother wailed.
Wonder and Oprah Winfrey were among the biggest names gathered to mourn Houston, along with Hudson, Monica, Brandy, and Jordin Sparks representing a generation of big-voiced young singers who grew up emulating her.
More than 1,500 packed the New Hope Baptist Church for the nearly four- hour service that celebrated Houston’s life and career.
ENDS
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