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Whitney Houston memorial service
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The service started off with a brief welcome by City Mayor Cory Booke, pastor Joe Carter took to the altar to read some scripture and start the celebration of Whitney's life. He said: 'Whitney you are the only woman who could bring all of us together, Whitney today is your day.'

Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, who was the first soloist to sing, performed "Stand" which was a request from the Houston family. Members of the congregation stood up and started raising their hands and praising as McClurken sang to the congregation accompanied by the large gospel choir.

She then invited Tyler Perry to come and say a few words. He started by saying: 'It was Pat (Whitney’s sister-in-law) that introduced me to Whitney. I met her a few years ago. She told me about things that she went through. I saw this sadness and heaviness. 'But before she would say what was bothering her she would interrupt and say "But the Lord... But my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ". I’m thankful for all that God has done in her life. 'There was a grace that followed her through her life. There was a grace that kept on carrying her. She loved the Lord.'

She then invited gospel singer Bebe Winans to come up and sing. Bebe Winans and his sister CeCe Winans came up to the altar. He told the story of how Whitney changed her tour so they would be the ones to headline instead of her which made Clive Davis mad.

Warwick then invited renowned pastor Bishop T. D. Jakes to the pew who met her on the set of the remake of Sparkle, Whitney’s final movie which will be released in August, which he helped to produce.

'Surrounded by friends and admirers enthralled by the beautiful Whitney Houston. But that’s not what brings you here because you knew who she was. Not what she did. You shared her with the world and we just want to take a moment to say thank you,’ he opened up with saying. He embarked on a sermon where he talked about the Bible and spoke of love being stronger than death. 'One day you’ll be driving and hear Whitney’s voice in your head, something that she said or did, and you’ll giggle. They may leave you outwardly but they never leave you inwardly,' he finished.

Kim Burrell was next to take to the altar. The gospel singer and pastor says Whitney helped her in the start in her career.

She was supposed to sing "I Believe In You and Me," which Burrell performed to tribute to Houston at the 2010 BET Honors, but she instead did a personalised version of "A Change Is Going To Come", where she sang that a change had to come in Whitney’s life. Her lyrics were directed to Whitney’s mother Cissy and sang about how she would get on her knees and pray for her daughter during all the trials and tribulations in her life.

The Bodyguard co-star Kevin Costner got up to share memories of his time with his beloved friend. He started by saying: 'I would like to thank Cissy and Dionne for the honour of being here. Everyone treating my wife and I so gracefully.' 'The song I Will Always Love You almost wasn’t. She was meant to sing What Becomes of the Broken Hearted. So what becomes our broken hearts. 'For a moment we should dry our tears, suspend our sorrow and anger. Never forgot that Cissy and Bobbi Kristina are sitting among us. 'Your mother and I had a lot in common,' he said to Bobbi Kristina. 'He’s a boy, she’s a girl. I’m white, she’s black. You’d think we had nothing in common but we did. 'We both grew up in a Baptist church. My grandmother led the choir and played the piano.

Kevin told stories of his childhood in the church that Whitney enjoyed him telling her when they worked together including him 'drinking grape juice' in the back of the church. He laughed: 'I can see her as a skinny girl running around this place, using her smile to get out of trouble and Cissy having enough of it. Whitney said she was waiting no whisper, her mother Cissy and cousin Dionne.

'As I’m sure of Whitney’s place in musical history. I’m also sure of how she felt about her mother. Was she good enough. Could I have done better. Did they really like me or were they just being polite because they’re scared of you Cissy?’

He spoke about how there was initial anxiety about Whitney, a black woman, to play alongside Kevin Costner. He said that there was a sigh of relief when it turned out that Whitney was going to be able to do The Bodyguard because she was going to be one tour. But Kevin said he would wait a year for so she would be available. 'Whitney was nervous and scared that she wasn’t good enough for the role. But I told her I would be with her every step of the way. 'I wanted to tell her that the fame was rigged. That I didn’t care how the test went, that she could fall down and start speaking in tongues. That somehow it was a kind of acting method. 'The Whitney I knew despite her worldwide fame always worried. Am I good enough. Am I pretty enough. Will they like me. The part that made her great and the part that made her great was also the part that made her stumble. 'A lot of men could have played my role. But you Whitney were the only person who could have played Rachel Marron. 'People didn’t just like you Whitney. They loved you. I was your pretend bodyguard once. And now you’re gone too soon. 'What you did was the rarest of achievements. You set the bar so high. That your colleagues don’t even sing that little country song. What’s the point. I think Whitney would tell you, little girls wanting to become singers. Guard your bodies and guard the precious miracle you have.'

Fighting back tears he said: 'Off you go Whitney, off you go. Escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly father. When you sing before him. Don’t you worry. You will be good enough.' Singer Alicia Keys was next to perform and, introducing her Dionne Warwick said she was 'a young lady that Whitney adored'.

Alicia was tearful as she walked to the piano and spoke about her friendship with the singer.

'We called each other Meema. She was such a beautiful human being. Call you for no reason at all but just to say hi. And that’s rare I think sometimes.

'I feel like in so many ways she reached back to me and to Michael and Brandy and Jordin and all these young artists and made us feel strong and capable and loved. I think she is an angel to us. She has been an angel to us.'

Alicia then sang a medley of songs on the piano starting with Send Me An Angel, changing the lyrics to Whitney is an Angel. She tightly embraced Cissy and Bobbi Kristina as she stepped off the altar

Clive Davis was introduced next. He was Whitney’s mentor and guided her career for decades. It was Davis’ annual pre-Grammy party that Whitney was getting ready for on Saturday February 11. She ran a bath in her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel but never made it out. She was found dead minutes later.

He said being in the church was helping him and told of how he lost his mother as a teen when his mother was 47 and he lost his father the following year.

'She took our breaths away': Clive Davis spoke about how stunningly beautiful Whitney was in The Bodyguard 'I’ve felt my mother’s guidance and she’s helped me through my life. You wait for a voice life Whitney’s for a lifetime. A voice like that. A smile like that. And for someone to embody all of those things is astounding.

'Whitney and I spent Tuesday afternoon at the Beverly Hills hotel [days before she died] and saw that she had applied some makeup. She was one beautiful woman.

'We talked non-stop music. In the past every hit we shared was pure joy. When she broke that record of seven consecutive number ones. We felt utter disbelief. We pinched ourselves. She was never arrogant.

'Whitney held my hand when I worried about her getting The Bodyguard. But she dazzled in her close ups during Run To You. She captured the world forever with I Will Always Love You. 'Is there anyone who has sang Star Spangled Banner that remotely compares to her. Will there ever be?' he asked.

He spoke about the songs they listened to and recorded over the years and said the songs were ‘scorching his brain’ right now.

'Yes she spoke to Oprah about her searing battles but when I needed her she was there. She was there for me. And entirely loyal friend,. I believe in you and me.

'I was her industry father and was so proud of it. And Bobbi Kristina - she loved you so very much. She defined not only pure talent but true heart and soul. She will forever be looking after you and never let go of your hand. You should be so proud of your mother.

'She came to see me and was excited about the new cuts from her new movie Sparkle,' he said of the soundtrack.

'I’ve been swimming every day,’ Whitney told Clive. ‘I’m committed to getting my high notes back. No cigarettes. Clive I’ll be ready by August. Well Whitney I will be ready by August. Everyone in heaven including God are waiting. And I just know you will raise the roof like no one has done before.’ Dionne went to introduce Aretha Franklin who was scheduled to perform but she had evidently not heard that that Aretha had pulled out due to illness and experiencing leg spasms.

'She loved Whitney as if she was born to her. She was her Godmother,’ Dionne said before introducing Ray Watson who was Whitney’s bodyguard.

'I was her bodyguard for almost 11 years. On the set of Sparkle everyone had left and I really wanted to go home.’

He shared a story about driving Whitney a far distance because she didn’t want to fly on that particular journey.

Watson said she was scared because he was carrying ‘precious cargo'.

'I lost a friend, a boss, a sister, but then your spirit came and saw me she said you are free. In those 11 years I was by her side. Through thick and thin,’ he said.

'God gave us an angel – to Miss Houston. We have to give back to our entertainers. Treat them with dignity and with love. Stop ridiculing them,' he said which made people stand and applaud. 'This lady right here she loved you. I was with her almost every day and I know that.’

Stevie Wonder took to the piano next to serenade the congregation.

'Dionne, Cissy and to all the family, I want you to know - as have millions of people said - not just in this time but throughout her career, we loved her so much and that won’t stop,' he said.

'In my fantasy world I had a crush on Whitney,’ he laughed. 'I understand that Ribbons in the Sky is one of the ones that she liked a lot,’ Stevie said before explaining that he changed the lyrics to make it more appropriate for church and the occasion.

'What God gives is never a coincidence and more than a happenstance,’ he sang. ‘Who can lose with God on our side. And no more Whitney do you have to cry. You will always be our ribbon in the sky. And angel from God’s choir of love. Whitney an angel from the choir. From God’s choir of love.’

He received a standing ovation when he finished his heart-wrenching tribute to Whitney. Pat Houston, Whitney’s manager and sister-in-law was next to speak.

'There is so much I could say about her. A life misunderstood. Sometimes misunderstood even by herself,’ she said.

'When she did not want to do things she did them anyway. It is this special gift of giving. Some were jealous and envious but Whitney gave anyway. She knew in the final analysis it will be between her and God.

'My hope is that you will remember her. To my mother-in-law – the choice was always hers. There were people that God couldn’t heal,’ Pat said.

'Clive you were the rock that held her together professionally. She referred to you as industry father. You gave her hope. Thank you for your excellence, your loving kindness, peace, dedication and most importantly your love for Whitney all these years.

'LA Reid there was much love for you. Clive was her industry father. You were her industry uncle.

'Her work ethics were impeccable. She put the spark in Sparkle and Krissy that was for you,’ she said of Whitney’s film role in Sparkle. At the service's close, with Whitney's greatest hit I Will Always Love You playing, her mother Cissy followed behind the casket supported by two helpers

Stevie Wonder took to the piano next to serenade the congregation.

'Dionne, Cissy and to all the family, I want you to know - as have millions of people said - not just in this time but throughout her career, we loved her so much and that won’t stop,' he said.

'In my fantasy world I had a crush on Whitney,’ he laughed. 'I understand that Ribbons in the Sky is one of the ones that she liked a lot,’ Stevie said before explaining that he changed the lyrics to make it more appropriate for church and the occasion.

'What God gives is never a coincidence and more than a happenstance,’ he sang. ‘Who can lose with God on our side. And no more Whitney do you have to cry. You will always be our ribbon in the sky. And angel from God’s choir of love. Whitney an angel from the choir. From God’s choir of love.’

He received a standing ovation when he finished his heart-wrenching tribute to Whitney. Pat Houston, Whitney’s manager and sister-in-law was next to speak.

'There is so much I could say about her. A life misunderstood. Sometimes misunderstood even by herself,’ she said.

'When she did not want to do things she did them anyway. It is this special gift of giving. Some were jealous and envious but Whitney gave anyway. She knew in the final analysis it will be between her and God.

'My hope is that you will remember her. To my mother-in-law – the choice was always hers. There were people that God couldn’t heal,’ Pat said.

'Clive you were the rock that held her together professionally. She referred to you as industry father. You gave her hope. Thank you for your excellence, your loving kindness, peace, dedication and most importantly your love for Whitney all these years.

'LA Reid there was much love for you. Clive was her industry father. You were her industry uncle.

'Her work ethics were impeccable. She put the spark in Sparkle and Krissy that was for you,’ she said of Whitney’s film role in Sparkle.

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Guest list
Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, Kevin Costner, Tyler Perry, Mariah Carey, Gayle King, Chaka Khan, Brandy, Roberta Flack, Jordin Sparks and Jennifer Hudson New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Spike Lee

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