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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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I suppose all of you people that think Whitney over dosed on drugs also believe Joe Paterno died from cancer?
Joe was murdered because he knew to much.
Buried already? Not going to milk the story for another month? Sorry, folks who are fans, but, rarely do I see a story about someone who's music I enjoyed, ever written up when they died! Hers was not my music, sorry!
The pedophile MJs music was probably more your style.
Who is MJ? I don't recall a perfomer with those initials!
Whitney commited suicide...overdosed on purpose and that is why she will burn in hell forever.
Too bad, whatever happened to such a young person!
TimRN as a nurse myself, I sincerely hope that's just a screen name. One of the first things you learn in nursing school is compassion and you sure aren't displaying any. Like someone mentioned earlier, why read the article or comment if you feel how you feel. Just because Whitney did drugs doesn't make her a whore either.
If you read one of his comments he acknowledge he's a nurse and how he interact with his patients.
It is so sad seeing people so disrespectful and vitriolic.
What went wrong in your lives that make you so hateful and classless.
I just don't understand..... nor do I want to.
I bet your mothers are ashamed.
I totally agree...when did it start becoming acceptable to talk so ill of the dead. Its totally disrespectful.
It is more than disrespectful. What would motivate someone to spend hours on a thread repeatedly being vulgar and offensive? There is something psychologically wrong with these people.
If you can spend hours on a thread being vulgar and offensive, I think you have way too much time on your hands and too much hatred in your heart. A trip to a psychologist should be made on short order.
Many people can't escape their addictions, rest in peace.
It seems that many people are addicted to hateful, demeaning, dehumanizing commentary.
I'm not even a Whitney fan.
Still, it makes my heart hurt.
this is the result of back in slaving days times...the white women would get them the young black buck and suck thier nuts some many times that when they finally had their children by the white master this is what we get...I say we stop the white women from eating our nuts..is that better Master RN?
And the Lord asks me what I did with my life? If I should die this very dy Don't cry, 'cause on Earth we weren't meant 2 stay! And no matter what the people say! I'll be waiting for you after the judgment day! She mayb absent in body, but she will b present 4ever in spirit. A chg had 2 come.............Amen
__________
(A time for everything) Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
Fame and fortune comes with a hefty price its not for every1 that's why they say what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. Normally I try 2 stay out of topics like this b/c what I do best is mind my own business and what I like 2 do is mind my own business. However, I feel compelled 2 say something even though I've never been a big Whitney Houston fan until I stumbled across My Love Is Your Love.
John 3:16 For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten Son that whosoever BELIEVES in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life........................................
Success is NOT built upon Chance or Luck. Success is NOT determined outside of You. Success is CREATED within You.
We will never know the heartaches, pains, blood, sweat, crying and hurt she went through 2 mk it thus far. Until u have walked in some1 shoes do not judge them. Only GOD can judge us! Some ppl r nothing but deep sea scuba divers they go where no man has gone b4 so they will go, as far as digging through ur trash and garbage cans. Everybody has skeletons in their closet some r so powerful they can knock dwn metal and steel.
This tragic was an out of control disaster until it spiral in2 a disaster out of control. The problem was ignored and dressed up 2 look good, but on the inside she was tossed around, turned in every direction, heart broken, torn in2 pieces, hurting her body, confused in the mind, troubled in her soul and crying out 4 help. Many ppl in our society, churches and families r nothing but dressed up garbage cans. So who r we 2 judge some1 for the same measures we judge 1 the Lord will judge u, 2.
I have never understood why ppl say they would like 2 b a fly on some1 walls when all they have 2 do is listen 2 what's going on in their own hms. I do not even think a fly wants 2 b on the walls of some ppl hms, so I believe this is why a fly bumps against the walls, windows and doors trying 2 save itself b/c it's 2 hot in there.
As a believer I sweep around my own front door b4 I try 2 sweep around some else door b/c 4 we all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. I'm not tking sides w/ any1 b/c at 12 yrs old JESUS knew that HIS sins were on HIM, so every1 knows right from wrong. And no1 has 2 come 2 us 2 tell us when we r doing wrong b/c what u do in the dark will come 2 light. Let this b a wake up call in our society, churches and families b/c every1 has 2 learn 2 tk responsibility 4 the actions they mk in life its the only wy U will learn from your mistakes, which will help U endure life changing events and not become overwhelmed with life.
I'm throwing things out here as they come 2 mind b/c life is the most precious of treasures b/c its a gift from GOD. So death begins when we tk our 1st breath and life ends when we tk our last breath. This is not our hm 4 we r only passing through until the potter finishes us. We r all GODS children so we were a blessing from GOD! . Regardless if u r young or old every knee has 2 bow and every tongue shall confess.
The sad thing is the majority of times we r our own worst enemy b/c we do more harm 2 ourselves than what ppl do 2 us. And ppl don't reach out 2 ea other b/c they r so caught up in material things such as big hms, jewelry, designer clothes, designer shoes, designer handbags, fast cars and money. Unfortunately we live in a world where society has clicks 2, so if u r not in the circle they will not extend the olive branch 2 u. Not only does society have clicks, but its gotten so bad until their in our families and churches, too. If the family institution was close knitted then their love ones would b there 2 catch them b4 they fall in2 the murk and miry clay. We r all a work of art in the potters hand Hes not finished with us, so family members must remember 2 pick up the ph 2 ck on their love ones and visited ea other more often. When I heard about Anna Nicole, Michael Jackson and Amy Winehouse I didn't say anything. I guess I'm saying something about Whitney Houston b/c a couple wks ago I found myself listening 2 Ms. Houston singing My Love Is Your Love. I pray shes wrapped in the arms of the Lord b/c all she needed was 4 some1 to show her the wy bk then she would've plc'd her hands in the Lords hand and He would not had let her go dwn a path of life destruction.
We can continue writing our introspection's, but I'm asking u 2 tk a look at the man in mirror and change your wys. We can't save the world, but if we turn 1 to RIGHTEOUSNESS the ANGELS will rejoice in HEAVEN. B careful what u say on earth b/c a little bird may fly bk 2 Heaven and repeat it. If u do not have nothing good 2 say about a person then keep ur mouth shut especially during a time like this. Point ur finger at some1 and see how many r pointing bk at U.
Your Life is the most precious of treasures, when we see the value of others lives too, that's enlightenment. So may we see the people in our world as God sees them. She may b Absent in body, but she will b present in spirit!
Peace and may GOD b w/us
I don't know about the drug thing -- except for the media reports, but what I don't get is this: so many strong, professional, female singers in that family, her mother, her aunt, her cousin -- women who had made it through the gauntlet of fame and fortune and all it entails, who have now lived to a mature age -- and none of them could see any of this coming and shepherd her through it?
They had to know the pitfalls of the industry.
Maybe it's me.
Rest in Peace, dearest Whitney, always.
Peace and God's blessings to all this day.
You are not alone,find your soul mate on here.
@Mayhem-So true....Whitney was a beautiful woman and singer. We don't know what contributed to her death, (drugs, alcohol), we weren't there. She died suddenly.She deserves the respect like anyone else that passes.
I wish that Whitney Houston was alive instead of Rush Limbaugh.
JonEKC, that is not nice. Don't lower yourself and wish anyone dead. Whitney would not like that comment you made.
Thanks for the memories "Nippy". To quote you Whitney, "I Will Always Love You".
Well, finally., they buried her.
You think the media pumped it up enough, already??
Now, all we're going to hear about it is how she is making more money dead than when she was alive!!!
Makes one wonder if that might have been a part of it.... sending her off at age 48, instead of waiting another decade or two....
RIP young lady
CRACK IS WHACK!
May Whitneys Soul Rest in Peace. May God give her family members and relatives the strength and courage to bear this huge loss. GOD BLESS HER SOUL. MAY SHE REJOICE IN HEAVEN.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
There is so much sadness for a person whose life is cut short. Whitney Houston was so talented, but seemingly always haunted by her demons of drugs and alcohol. These two devils proved to be too strong for her to overcome. May she rest in peace.
Good maybe we don't have to hear anymore about Whitney! Lets hear about our men and women who are fighting for our country's freedom!
I think there is one piece of the puzzle missing in the story of the rise and fall of Whitney Huston a great singer and a beautiful women.
Perhaps I am the only one who remembers that in the beginning of her career she was young and inexperienced, she lead a sheltered life singing in the church.
It must be pointed out that early on as she began to release her early records there was a lot of talk in the media and the entertainment industry just how innocent she was. Does anyone besides me remember the Barbara Walters interview.
Barbara Walters asked Whitney Houston about the coverage and claims in the media that she was somewhat naive and innocent and would not be able to endure the in the entertainment industry, then Barbara Walters pointed out that many felt that she was not black enough to be embraced by the black community, whereupon Whitney Houston in her effort to prove just how black she could be and could fit into the street culture she began to swear, they had to bleep out much of her response.
As far as I am concerned that was the beginning of her downfall, she felt she had to sink down to the lowest level in order to proove she had street cred and could fit into the lowest level of the black street culture. She turned her back on the culture of the church she grew up in just to fit into a culture that turned her into a junky.
It is truly a shame that such talent had to be wasted on a lifetime of abuse to herself.
Let the EXPLOITATION begin!
Marketing, marketing, marketing!
People need to express their grief in different ways. Some need quiet small reflective ceremonies and others need larger, noisier, more celebratory services. Neither is more or less "right" than the other. The only real difference is how the media react and clearly the latter type of service lends itself to more and excessive media coverage. That does not mean that when covering the former the media doesn't still try to overdo it anyway.
I've been reading the posts in here...some very ugly ones...the worst offender "Tim Doyle, RN". I would hate to have someone of his nature tending to me if I was sick or needed care. It seems you are burned out, Tim, maybe it's time you got out of the profession to make room for others who have compassion.
Whitney Houston is a human first and foremost. And by all accounts, someone who wrestled with addiction. I hope that now she can rest in peace and that her family can find solace in the fact that she is no longer suffering.
And to Tim...you seem to reflect the complete opposite of the nurse's oath:
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
You have obviously never dealt with a crackhead, Redskins fan. They lie, they steal, the prostitute themselves. In this day and time, and for MANY years, it's been known what crack does. Houston CHOSE to do it. No sympathy, and little empathy should be shown towards her or her enablers. Anyone who sells crack should never see the light of day, death is too good for them. Anyone who is a crackhead, well...ultimately they all get their just desserts....just like poor poor Whitney.
Pretty lady with a great voice and an almost greater success story. Got on the drugs and died young. But enough already....................it's disrespectful to our troops who die in near anonymity
@ Redskins Fan, Get off Tim's back. Anyone who's had to work an E.R. Shift knows what he's talking about. We're here to help those in need. I have very little compassion for those who do it to themselves. Especially, people like Whitney who have the means and talent and choose to squander it. This is just another example of why you rarely see drug addicts make it to 50 years of age.
Roscoe2u my post #106 shines a little light on the subject from a different view.
And here is something else for people to consider, the medical profession has come up with a view point that addiction is a disease because some people have genes that tend to make them more prone to use drugs.
Perhaps but other than the crack babies no one is born addicted to drugs. The choice is always a conscience one made by a person who puts themselves in a position that requires them to make a decision to use or walk away. An example would be if heart problems ran in my family, I can choose to eat right and live a longer life than my parents or I can eat my way into a heart attack at a young age.
That is exactly what Whitney Houston did she made a conscious decision to use drugs to prove to others in the business that she could be black enough and acquire the street cred to be accepted in that culture.