Houston’s funeral to be private service
Associated Press
NEWARK, N.J.
Whitney Houston’s funeral will be Saturday in the church where she first showcased her singing talents as a child, her family choosing to remember her in a private service rather than in a large event at an arena.
The owner of Whigham Funeral Home said Tuesday that the funeral will be at noon at Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church, which seats up to 1,500 people. Gospel singer Marvin Winans, a Grammy Award winner and longtime family friend, has been chosen to give the eulogy, his son said.
The family said no public memorial service is planned. Officials had discussed the possibility of having a memorial at the Prudential Center, a major sports and entertainment venue that can seat about 18,000 people.
Funeral-home owner Carolyn Whigham said the church service will be by invitation only.
Houston, 48, died Saturday at a hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Officials say she was underwater and apparently unconscious when she was pulled from a bathtub.
After an autopsy Sunday, authorities said there were no indications of foul play and no obvious signs of trauma on Houston. It could be weeks, however, before the coroner’s office completes toxicology tests to establish the cause of death.
Los Angeles County coroner’s assistant chief Ed Winter said bottles of prescription medicine were found in the room.