Whitney Houston hailed as 'sweet miracle' at funeral

Whitney Houston's friends and familyjoinedmusic and film celebrities and hundreds of mournersin a packed New Jersey church for the late pop icon's funeral, where she was remembered as a "sweet miracle"and one ofthe greatest singers in the world.

The crowdof mourners packed the aisles ofNew Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where Houston, who died a week ago,sang as a child with the congregation's choir.

In his remarks, music producer Clive Davis, Houston's longtime mentor, called the singer a "natural genius" in interpreting songs.

"You wait for a voice like that for a lifetime," he said."You wait for a face like that, a smile like that, a presence like that for a lifetime. And when one person embodies it all, well, it takes your breath away."

Davis also referred to himself as a Houston's "industry father" and remembered her as a dear and loyal friend.

"I loved her very much. Whitney was purely and simply one of a kind," he said. "Yes, she admitted to crises in her life. Yes, she confessed to Oprah about herbattles. But when I needed her, she was there. She was there for me, an eternally loyal friend.

"Whatever the cause or event, she was there dominating the stage, stunning the audience and creating still another lifetime memory."

A gospel choir, members dressed in white and gold, opened the funeral with song, and churchgoers were swaying and clapping along. Some stood in the aisles of the packed church.

Kevin Costner,Houston's co-star in the Hollywood blockbuster film The Bodyguard,said she was "as beautiful as a woman could be."

"Whitney returns home today to the place where it all began, and I urge usto dry our tears, suspend our sorrow and perhaps our anger, just long enough, just long enough to remember the sweet miracle of Whitney," Costner said.

Friendsalso remembered the pop icon's voice, sense of humour, kindness and deep faith.

Director-producer Tyler Perry recalled Houston's strength to thecrowd of hundreds that filled the church.

"There was a grace that kept on carrying her through,"Perry said at the church'spulpit. "The same grace that led her to the top of the charts, sold off all the albums, and done all these amazing things."

Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder among performers

Gospel singer Bebe Winans, a close friend of Houston, recalled how the pop star, at the height of her career, offered to sing backup for him on his first major headline tour with his sister, Cece Winans.

He dedicated a song to Houston, originally written for his brother who died, called I Really Miss You.

"I miss your wit, miss your charm," he sang. "Just want to hold you in my arms..I miss your voice, when you would call. I miss your smile, most of all."

Alicia Keys also played the piano and sang a song dedicated to the late pop star.

"Whitney is an angelAnd we're never going to forget you," she sang.

'She was one with a charmed and beautiful life, a life misunderstood, even by herself.' Patricia Houston

Music legend Stevie Wonder, andsinger R. Kellyalso performed for the congregation.

The singer's sister-in-law, Patricia Houston, celebrated the singer's giving nature.

"She was one with a charmed and beautiful life, a life misunderstood, even by herself," she said, speaking on behalf of the family."But one that nonetheless gave joy, enthusiasm, peace and beautiful music to millions of people around the world."

Speaking to Houston's mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston, she alsooffered some comforting words which hinted at the pop singer's struggles.

"You did everything you could," she said. "But the choice was always hers."

Bobby Brownmakes appearance

Gospel singer and Pastor Marvin Winans, who presided over Houston's wedding to singer Bobby Brown in 1992 andwhose family has long been friends with the Houston clan,delivered the eulogy.

"Father, we thank you for the life of Whitney Elizabeth 'Nippy' HoustonLet us leave here recognizing that Whitney left too soon. Let us leave here impacted by her life."

Singers Chaka Khan, Brandy, Roberta Flack, Jordin Sparks, Jennifer Hudson and Rev. Jesse Jacksonwere among thosein thepews. Brandy comforted her brother, Ray-J, a singer who spent time with Houston during her final days.

Other big names in attendance included Oprah Winfrey, and singer Monica. Aretha Franklin was expected toattend andsing at the funeral, but a person close to the Houston family said Franklin was sick and could not attend.

Houston, a prominent figure in the gospel and soul music community, was the daughter of soul and gospel singer Cissy Houston and a cousin of singer Dionne Warwick.

'I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur.I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how.' Bobby Brown

A program featuring a picture of Houston looking skyward read "Celebrating the life of Whitney Elizabeth Houston, a child of God." Pictures of Houston as a baby, with her mother, and daughter, Bobbi Kristina, filled the program. Her mother wrote a letter thanking her for being a "wonderful daughter," signing the letter, "mommie."

Houston's mother and daughter sat together in the front pew of the church during the funeral.

Houston'sformer husband Brown briefly appeared at the funeral, walking to the casket, touching it and walking out. Security guards said Brown was upset that he would have had to sit separately from the people he arrived with.

Brown later issued a statement saying he and his children were "seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions."

"I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us, and no one else, to move. Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi-Kristina. In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene."

He added that his children were "distraught" over the events.

The service ended with the playing of Houston's smash hit I Will Always Love You, asthe pop singer'scasket was carried out.

Surrounding area cordoned off

Newark policesaid earlierthatsix square blocks around the New Hope Baptist Churchwould be cordoned off Saturday and that fans would not be allowed in.

Newark police director Samuel DeMaioadvised fans to stay hometo watch the funeral, which was broadcast on TV and streamed live online. He also said there would be no procession from Newark's Whigham Funeral Home, where Houston's body is resting, to the church.

Despite DeMaio's message, however, fans gathered outside the police cordon to pay their respects.

Groups of mourners had already made their way to the church Friday morning, erecting a makeshift memorial of balloons, photos, homemade signs andflowers on the sidewalk outside the building.

Devotees have also left tokens of remembrance to the singer outside the funeral home anda school that bears her name. Fans have appealed for a public memorial where they can unite to grieve.

On Saturday morning, a few fans gathered hours before the service as close as they could get to the church, some from as far away as Washington, D.C., and Miami.

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Others were more entrepreneurial, setting up card tables to sell silk-screened T-shirts with Houston's image and her CDs. But only the invited would get close to the church; streets were closed to the public for blocks in every direction.

One fan said he was there "just to be among the rest of the fans."

"Just to celebrate her life, not just her death," said Bobby Brooks of Washington. "Just to sing and dance with the people that love her."

Addiction woes

The 48-year-old singer died last Saturday on the eve of the 2012 Grammy Awards. Shewas discovered unconscious in a bathtubat the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel. Her death came just hours before she was slated to perform at a pre-Grammy Awards party.

Authorities said an autopsy found no indications of foul play or signs of trauma, but that it could take weeks before the coroner's office completes toxicology tests and determines the cause of death.

The singer's death cast a pall overthe Grammy Awards ceremony, triggered a wave oftributes onlineand impromptu memorials in public spaces around the world.

Houston's death has also generated some controversy.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was criticized for ordering that flags be flown at half-mast during Houston's funeral. Christie defended his decision, saying that Houston's problems with substance abuse should not detract from her accomplishments.

In Los Angeles, KFI AM 640 suspended John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, the outspoken hosts of its talk radio program The John and Ken Show, after they called Houston a derogatory name and said on air that the singer was "cracked out for 20 years." The pair subsequently issued an apology to Houston's family and their listeners in a statement.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, a friend of the Houston family who will be at the funeral Saturday, spoke of her addiction problems in an interview with CBC-TV's Connect with Mark Kelley Friday night.

"By her own admissions she had had a couple of relapses. She was fighting this demon," Jackson said.

"At the end of the day Whitney is a winner. But her pain should teach us lessons, because I hope those people who need help will get help and will not feel that they have to conceal their pain until it's too late."

Houston is to be buried Sunday next to her father, John Houston, in Westfield, N.J.