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The hearse carrying the body of Whitney Houston arrives for her private burial at the Fairview Cemetery on Sunday in Westfield, N.J.
Whitney Houston was laid to rest Sunday in a private ceremony at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, N.J. She was buried next to her father, John Russell Houston, who was interred in 2003.
The singer passed away on Feb. 11 at age 48.
Fans and onlookers gathered in several places along the route the motorcade took from the Newark funeral home to the cemetery about 20 miles away. Many held signs wishing Houston farewell and some created impromptu memorials. Some even slowly ran alongside the hearse as it began the journey to Houston's gravesite. Several yelled out "We love you, Whitney" as the hearse, which had a black and white headshot of the star in a window, slowly drove away.
Barbara Davis, 53, of Newark, said she had been waiting outside the funeral home since 8:30 a.m., hoping to get a glimpse of Houston's final trip.
"To be here at her home-going is an honor and a blessing," Davis told The Star-Ledger of Newark.
Saturday's ceremony at the New Hope Baptist Church was attended by hundreds of invited friends and family -- many of them stars themselves. After all the testimonials from relatives and friends, the songs from legends and pop stars, the preaching and even laughter, the raw emotion of Whitney Houston's funeral came down to just one moment: The sound of her own voice.
Whitney Houston was buried Sunday after an emotional funeral. Msnbc's Alex Witt reports.
Read NBCNewYork.com's complete coverage on Whitney Houston Set To Be Buried
As the strains of her biggest record, "I Will Always Love You," filled the New Hope Baptist Church at the end of the nearly four-hour service Saturday and her silver-and-gold casket was lifted in the air, the weight of the moment was too much for her mother to bear.
Gospel singer Cissy Houston wailed, "My baby! My baby!" as she was held up by two women and led out of the church behind her daughter's body.
A few steps behind her was the pop icon's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, also crying uncontrollably as she was comforted by Houston's close friend, singer Ray J.
Kevin Winter / Getty Images
It was the most searing scene on a day with mixed moods as family, friends and a list of celebrities — sometimes one and the same — came to the humble New Hope Baptist Church, where Whitney Houston first wowed a congregation, to remember one of music's legends, but also a New Jersey hometown girl.
Her death marked the end of a life of stunning achievement. Blessed with a voice of great power and beauty, Houston became one of pop music's most successful artists over a career that spanned nearly three decades and segued into film with hits like "The Bodyguard."
More from TheWrap: Houston joke earns suspension for radio duo
But her life was not without struggles. An addiction to drugs and a tumultuous union with ex-husband Bobby Brown saw her tumbling from grace.
An autopsy has been performed, but results will not be revealed until the completion of the toxicology report.
The Associated Press, NBCNewYork.com and TheWrap.com contributed to this report.
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Uhhhhhhh......So does all the hating, insults, mockery, moaning and sulking change a thing about anything? I think not. Great minds? Doesn't sound too great to me. If you want to increase your blood pressure, waste your energy on things you cannot change or trying and failing to sound intelligent then be our guests. Nothing changes the fact that Whitney Houston was despite her flaws, one of the greatest entertainers of all time. She was beautiful, talented and many other things to her family and friends that I am sure your family and friends mean to you. Nothing you say or do changes the fact that the world loved Whitney Houston! Internationally she was adored and if she wasn't she would have never received the kind of press coverage she did since she was introduced to the world right up until the end and beyond!
Ya know, you're right, Ayanda. We are just a bunch of misguided, fear mongering haters. We are what is so inherently wrong with this country....
I'm not a "fear mongering hater".....I"m just stating the truth. She was an out of control dope fein. She was a multimillionaire for kriste sake.......give me a break.....all my family members who have ever lived will never have the money she had. People are talking like she actually suffered, why? Because she had to get on stage and sing a song?
She had all the money in the world and could have had any guy on earth....sing to thousands a night....."oh Lord she had it rough...have mercy...have mercy...".....I don't think so. Try working at Walgreens for $8 an hour and raise 4 kids.
Grow up.....I worked with Mary Wells....and she was a dope head too.....gone man, gone....the blogger was right...
she's clean now......the LIGHT OF GOD is running all the drugs she needs thru her....lol
well said, Bryce.
The God of Pills, Booze and Stupid Dead Stars. RIP Whitney. You've been trying so hard for 20-odd years, at least you finally met your goal.
Hey, Whit-ney and Jim Morrison can get together now for a duet!!
† Proverbs 29:6
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
Tim, you are a real idiot. I can't believe you have the nerve to show your face making these comments with RN behind your name. I am a nurse and I would not want you to give care to me or my family with a heart like yours.
not a prob...I'm just impersonating a nurse. It's the only name that wasn't being used...someone beat me to dickhead...I can change it, if you like.
Nope you are sad Tim and somehow you don't know how to use your energy and time. Try shifting your focus on positive and not negative. In case you haven't noticed, you are very busy defending yourself, in the process making a complete fool of yourself and exposing yourself. I am a black physical therapist in South Africa and we don't always have the best of life. However we make the best of what we have and guess what we are slowly, but surely getting there. Be proud of who you are and what you do. You vowed to give nursing care to everyone, including psychiatric patients and addicts. If you are not happy, get out! Don't use Whitney Houston as a means of giving expression to your frustrations about your work and country. Irrespective of who you are and what you did wrong in life, everyone deserves a dignified funeral including a beautiful person like Whitney Houston. We all loved her. If you didn't, too bad. Get some rest ok! We really don't care what you have to say and by the look of things you are going to have to nurse yourself soon with your self-induced CVA!!
Uuuummm, never said anything about black, never said anything about being frustrated about work and my country? All I started out saying was that it seems lke ti's taking forever to bury this lady...I love what I do, and who I treat. As much as I sound like a fool here, I provide my patients with the best care possible. I empathize with them. So don't make this a racial thing. I don't care where you live, or what you do. She's dead, spending way too much time above ground now, and I would never tell a person to go off and have a CVA...very unproffesional, seeing as you're a PT...and I don't think I've defended myself in one post...sound like a fool...probably, but defensive, no.
† Proverbs 5:15
15 ¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Ayanda
I believe Tim is posting true statements. Whit was nothing but a crack whore who could sing back in the day, she was washed up and needed drugs to get through the day. You said she was a beautiful person, did you get a look what she looked like recently, a crack whore and she was out of control. I would like to see a picture of her after Bobby used her for a punching bag. Do not make this a racial thing, because crack whores junkies come in all colors.
Tim keep the voice of reason alive.
We have young men and women not taking drugs, can't even get a drink, dying under much more tragic circumstances and far more valiant cause, and we put so much emphasis into someone who had the world in their hands and chose, yes chose, to throw it all away. Rehab works if you want it to. My sympathies to her family and the waste of a great talent, but in the end it was her choice. Our soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors don't have the choice. Where is their fanfare?
† We come in the name of Yahshua the Messiah, the Son of Yahweh. We have asked Our Father to give us the words to speak of one, Whitney Houston. It was truly refreshing to see the faith and Spirit which was present at the New Hope Baptist Church. A new hope is what we seek, in which was in abundance with His flock at the gathering of the rebirth of Whitney. We have been refreshed as well, by the Power of the Holy Spirir, which lives in all of us.
Our Father searches the minds and hearts of everyone, as He has looked upon Whitney, and found the love, beauty, and faith in a continual state within her heart. His love is so great, the decision was made, to uplift Whitney to a higher level. The harvest can come at any hour, and at any time. Whitney was ready and Our Master knew this full well. Seeing that her heart was already prepared, full of love, and caring, the redemption was truly originated to uplift Whitney's soul.
Even though many rewards were bestowed upon Whitney on this earth, Our Father saved the seventh and final achievement as being reserved unto the crown of righteousness for Whitney. This is the greatest gift of love which Our Father has promised those whom follow after Him. We shall truly miss the beauty, the hope, and the light which Whitney brought to this earth, given by One, to her, as it pleased Him.
Our hearts shall be with Whitney always, for we shall always love her, as she loved us. We thank Reverend Joe and the choir, for there is much faith which remains. As Jesus has said, Heaven and earth shall pass away but my Words shall never pass away.
Whitney's work was complete by the standards of Our Father, as her heart remained in unity with One.
Oh she died?
Let's get to the truth, if God and Jesus are so powerful, why didn't they save her?....okay, okay, now the lighter fluid is coming down from the sky......well, before the match is lit....I still have some more crap to vent.....
Where were the Angels that watch over us and all of that ordained crap? Why didn't God save Whitney? Well...guess what.....for God and all his workers, it was another "NO SHOW".........we have free will and such is life. Get off you rear ends and get your life together, which she was unable to do. So much for the Bible she carried around with her. It did NOT work in her life. She blew it and ended up dead. TOO MANY DRUGS!!!
I heard that is was Whitney that turned Bobby into the dope head!!!......It is just so unbelievable to me that she
was able to trash herself away. She probably got so sick of hearing herself sing inside elevators, that she couldn't take it anymore. When you are making that kind of money, life becomes boring. God gave us free will. Whitney killed herself. End of story.
† The Evangel According to Matthew
12:36
36 And I say to you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of it in the day of judgment.
like I said, the lighter fluid is coming down isn't it....ooooouuuu I'm really scared....you self-righteous prick....
Now, in the meantime, Whitney ruined her life, she is dead. She had free will and chose to do drugs....I didn't kill her, she killed herself...let's talk reality now.....not fantasy crap about my comment.......none of your judgement day crap....okay? I don't want to hear about what you think God is.....and all this blow-hard crap.....I don't feel sorry for these rich star/idiots who become dope heads......Elvis, Johnny Cash, John Belushi, David Bowie, James Taylor, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane............the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on.......I don't need to hear any more of their sob stories about being drug addicts.....get a life...
I could a doped up drunk in 10 minutes.....but it does NOT interest me. I understand being at the bottom too, where there is no place to look except up.......you don't know what you are talking about. I've already been to the other side, and my Angels told me I had to come back. I've seen my judgement day brother/sister.......whoever you are......so blow you holy roller crap up your bung-ho.........
Whitney's only living legacy now is WHAT NOT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE!!! pure and simple....I don't care how many stars were at here funeral. The woman blew it. Furthermore, there were no
Signs to look for when spotting a sociopath: "ears place on the head that are below the corner of the eye"
Timmy boy, grow your hair out to cover your ears or put on a hat. If that's you in the picture, we can see who and what you are!!
Signs of a troll: "poster commenting for 4 hours straight"
Hey Glob, football season is over, Phil is ahead in golf, and it's so much fun getting all the panties all twisted up tight on here...it was either wind all you guys up, or do my taxes...so if I had ODumbo ears, I would be normal?
I can't believe that you are really a rn, talking all this heartless crap.
a what? missing acouple of letter, maybe...
Thanks for the advice. I'm growing my hair out as we type...oh, and if you're not a chicken, where's YOUR picture?? Hiding some sociopathic ears, maybe?
Changed my profile pic so hopefull I don't scare anymore people!
Hmmm...and this stupid comment is coming from a poster named(wait for it folks...)
"Geezstring?"
Wow, just wow!
It is amazing to see all the fake people coming out for this. The world has one less burnt out crackhead in it.
RIP Whitney "Crackhead" Houston you left a great example for women to look up to.
I truly hope this woman has been buried today and that will be the end of a sad story. I completely objected to the lowering of the flag for her......did we do this for Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole.....Betty Ford...at least Mrs. Ford used her addiction to help others and she made a true comittment to stay clean. Ms. Whitney was a gifted singer but I.... can't recall she ever did anything for anyone except herself...her career in context with some others was relatively short. She was a DRUG ADDICT....sorry for that but it is what it is. I'll bet money her daughter goes down the same path, since I doubt she truly had much of a mother.
Hey Tim, I'm here for ya buddy. So agree with so much of what you've written.
Now, just so all here know, I'm a guerta. If you live in the S.W., you'll know what that is.
Thought Whitney was fabulous back in the day. Then she faded, and I didn't give it much thought. A few years ago, I caught an episode of BBB, and was horrified. OMG, she was nothing more than any other drunk I've seen. And I've seen plenty, from a young, young age, if you catch my drift. Spent some time as a weekend warrior myself, but limited myself as I knew the odds were against me. So I will argue with you as to the DNA. It can be beat. You control it. As you do with ANY substance. I actually heard my sister, who still has problems, tell me that because our parents were drunks, we had no choice but to be the same.....My mom died that way at 49, and the old man got it under control and lived to see 81. Now Whitney? I really think she felt owed, and with her money, she dug her own grave. For which I have no sympathy. She should have put her energy into being a mom and a great singer, and in that order.
Hay speaking of the medical field. Tim the RN help kill her with legal drugs he would have given to her. Had she been with Bobby she maybe still around because smoking weed and drinking would never have killed her so fast.
Sloppy joe
Are you slandering Tim for saying he helped kill her. Bobby would have kept her around to live off or her money and then beat the $hxt out of her. Now who will bobby do drugs with.
Tim is saying what he believes without a potential slander suit.
I for one will miss Whitney, she was blessed with a dynamic voice and made millions of people happy. It is a tragic story and i will not pass judgment on her. Some people may criticize her, but she was a human being with strenghts and weakness just like the rest of us. RIP Whitney Houston.
What's all the bruhaha? In a week, we'll all forget just like um...what's her name "...not going to rehab...no no no."
R.I.P. Whitney! I love you and so do millions of other people! Your voice was amazing, and you were a great philanthropist! You didn't brag about how much you gave to charity, you just gave, no media attention needed. You made my graduation a WONDERFUL experience with your song 'One Moment in Time'.
I am saddened that you couldn't find total happiness during your time here on earth and left us too soon, but many of those with extreme talent, beauty and creativity do not understand the amazing gifts that they have been blessed with.
Amadeus Mozart, Elvis, Dorothy Dandridge, Michael Jackson, and even Marilyn Monroe were unable to beat back their personal demons, but gave the world of themselves, with no regard for their own lives.
The same with you, Whitney. You gave to US. Although, Whitney, you succumbed to your heart breaks, your beautiful voice saved me from my own. THANK YOU.
I know you will R.I.P. and you will be blessed daily by your God. God bless you, Whitney, and thank you!!
Well that is one less crack whore in the world.
R.I.P. Whitney! I love you and so do millions of other people! Your voice was amazing, and you were a great philanthropist! You didn't brag about how much you gave to charity, you just gave, no media attention needed. You made my graduation a WONDERFUL experience with your song 'One Moment in Time'.
I am saddened that you couldn't find total happiness during your time here on earth and left us too soon, but many of those with extreme talent, beauty and creativity do not understand the amazing gifts that they have been blessed with.
Amadeus Mozart, Elvis, Dorothy Dandridge, Michael Jackson, and even Marilyn Monroe were unable to beat back their personal demons, but gave the world of themselves, with no regard for their own lives.
The same with you, Whitney. You gave to US. Although, Whitney, you succumbed to your heart breaks, your beautiful voice saved me from my own. THANK YOU.
I know you will R.I.P. and you will be blessed daily by your God. God bless you, Whitney, and thank you!!
and just what philanthropic actions are you speaking of???? and just what are you thanking her for....her inspirational life??? or her parenting skills??? outside of a couple of songs she was nothing to idolize
Whitney Houston was murdered. She did not die from an overdose of drugs.
On the real people. She had one of the best voices during her time. All the haters blogging do not have the gift to make millions so you are just sad hateful losers.
The best poster on this entire blog is Tim Doyle - I loved EVERY post. I needed the laugh - you missed your calling!
He had me cracking UP! "I thought they planted her yesterday!" LMAO! I have nothing against Whitney Houston and she also provided me a bunch of laughs during her last concert tour. You would have thought I was her twin hunting for a crack pipe the way I was searching Youtube for video uploads of her last concert! I laughed so hard I think I wet myself! Those performances of "I will always love you" were priceless - off key and missed notes and all!
"They better hurry up and plant her before the drugs wear off and she rises from the dead!" No he didn't - YES HE DID! LMAO!
You are BBBBAAAAADDDD!!!! SCREAMING!!! LOL Yall have to stop - I am getting a cramp!
She was a crack whore who ignored the fact that she had a responsibility as a mother. Now I hear her daughter is in rehab...
To show just how stupid you are ClevelandChemist, Whitney's daughter was at the cemetery this morning for the burial of her mother so please tell me how she is in Rehab and at a cemetery at the same time. On another note, Why do you claim she was a "Crack Whore"? Do you have first hand knowledge that she was using crack or is it just something you herd, read or just assumed all female singers do? We don't know the cause of her death but I'm sure it would not make you feel any better to learn her death was the result of mixing two or more prescription drugs or prescription drugs with alcohol. People like you are so quick to judge and condemn others but have all the reasons in the world to offer to protect or cover your own family. Well Whitney Houston was a human being and not perfect. She had problems and made mistakes just like many of us do. We can only hope she had begun to turn her life around when this happened. I'm sure none of this will change your opinion of her and it really doesn't make any difference. You see, she was a child of GOD and it is only HIS opinion that matters. I'm thankful for the fact that HE is a forgiving GOD for when the time comes HE is even going to forgive you.
OMG ! JUST BURY THAT CRACK HBEAD