Whitney Houston funeral private, to be held in her home church

Whitney Houston fans wondering where the funeral will be held are out of luck: it’s invitation-only and being held at her home New Hope Baptist church.

The Associated Press was informed that despite earlier reports, there will be no public wake for Whitney Houston at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Mayor Cory Booker’s office said that “In compliance with the family’s wishes the city is not moving forward with any public ceremony.”

The private funeral will be held at noon at the New Hope Baptist Church where Houston first sang as a child and where she developed her talents as a world-class vocalist. It was here that one of the world’s most acclaimed and beloved singers was first fashioned. Her mother Cissy was, and continues to be, the choir director.

The owner of the Whigham Funeral Home, which is making the arrangements, confirmed the plans on Tuesday.

In the church, Houston was simply “Nippy” who had a kind word for those she knew and acknowledged those she didn't. Nobody pestered her for autographs. She'd sit with the congregation to worship as if she was just one of them. Which she was.

"She had a voice that would just make you smile, because you knew the songs she was singing were uplifting to the glory of God and she's left an indelible mark here at the New Hope Baptist Church and around the world," said Jacqueline Kimble, a 45-year member of the church who sang with Houston when they were teenagers.

Houston’s family is choosing to place a focus on her roots in the church and in gospel music at her farewell service. By keeping the funeral private, they are also opting to focus inward – all of which is a refreshing change from the star-studded funeral extravaganzas of other celebrities.

Whitney Houston was found dead in a bathtub on Saturday at the Beverly Hilton. Authorities have confirmed that they have released Houston’s body to the family after an autopsy was completed. There has not been an official statement from the coroner’s office regarding the exact cause of death, pending toxicology results.

Singer Chaka Khan expressed her grief and outrage over the loss of her “little sister” during an interview with Piers Morgan last night. She said that the decision to hold Clive Davis’s pre-Grammy party in the same hotel where Houston’s body was found “complete insanity.”

“Knowing Whitney, I don’t believe she would have said the show must go on,” Khan said. “I don’t know what could motivate a person to have a party in a building where the person whose life he had influenced so enormously and whose life had been affected by her. . . . I don’t understand how that party went on.”

Khan was set to perform a tribute to Houston at the Grammys but pulled out a few hours before the ceremony. “As I grieve the loss of my friend and ‘little sister,’ I don’t feel it appropriate to perform at this time. Continue to pray for the family,” she tweeted.

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