NEWARK, N.J. (AP) 鈥� Dionne Warwick, BeBe Winans, Darlene Love and a massive choir helped celebrate the life of during a music-filled memorial Thursday in the Duchess of Gospel鈥檚 hometown of Newark.
The ceremony at New Hope Baptist Church 鈥� where Houston was a congregant and choir leader for decades 鈥� was decorated with framed photos of Houston and her coffin was placed in front of the pulpit. The church also held funeral more than a decade ago.
鈥淪he gave so much. She gave me the right to be me,鈥� said Warwick, 83, the 91-year-old Houston鈥檚 niece, who often backed up Warwick.
鈥淐issy, I鈥檓 going to miss you,鈥� she added, asking her aunt to greet her passed relatives. 鈥淭hey're all waiting for you. You gave us your heart and soul.鈥�
Houston, a two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist who sang with and died Oct. 7. In her honor, her oldest son, Gary, sang 鈥淔reedom鈥� and Love sang 鈥淚t Is Well with My Soul.鈥� Her goddaughters said they would carry on her tradition of wearing purple eyeshadow proudly.
A portrait emerged from the speakers of a woman of great faith and deep love but also one who suffered fools poorly. 鈥淣o one else could cut you in Jesus鈥� name,鈥� Winans joked as the mourners roared. 鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 have to say words. She could cut you with her eyes.鈥�
He also told a story of her compassion: When Whitney Houston died, Winans got a call from Cissy. 鈥淚鈥檓 just calling to check on you,鈥� she told him. 鈥滱t that moment, her strength became my strength. It was just who she was.鈥�
read a proclamation created in her honor and called Houston a 鈥渕usical legend鈥� who 鈥渆mbodied the very soul of New Jersey.鈥�
鈥淲hile each one of us are born with a voice, only a select few of us are endowed with a voice that is powerful enough to reach into the hearts of millions and millions of listeners around the world, a voice that is powerful enough to soothe the pain of heartbreak or to carry the euphoria of falling in love,鈥� Murphy said.
A church performer from an early age, Houston was part of a family gospel act before breaking through in popular music in the 1960s as a member of the prominent backing group The Sweet Inspirations, with Doris Troy and niece Dee Dee Warwick. The group sang backup for a variety of soul singers including Otis Redding, Lou Rawls and The Drifters. They also sang backup for Warwick.
Houston鈥檚 many credits included Franklin鈥檚 鈥淭hink鈥� and 鈥�(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,鈥� Van Morrison鈥檚 鈥淏rown Eyed Girl鈥� and Dusty Springfield鈥檚 鈥淪on of a Preacher Man.鈥� The Sweet Inspirations also sang on stage with Presley.
The Sweet Inspirations had their own top 20 single with the soul-rock 鈥淪weet Inspiration,鈥� made in the Memphis studio where Franklin and Springfield, among others, recorded hits. They released four albums just in the late 鈥�60s.
Houston became an in-demand session singer and recorded more than 600 songs in multiple genres throughout her career. Her vocals can be heard on tracks alongside a wide range of artists including Chaka Khan, Donny Hathaway, Jimi Hendrix, Luther Vandross, Beyonc茅, Paul Simon, Roberta Flack and her own daughter.
鈥淲hat she represents is so powerful that it continues to echo to this day,鈥� said the Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson. 鈥淪he worked with the Irish and African Americans and Italians and Latino and Jewish brothers and sisters because she believed in a patchwork and quiltwork of diversity. Unlike others who try to negate the beauty and value of all of us coming together.鈥�
Others in the audience included singers Valerie Simpson and Monifah Carter, and producer Debra Martin Chase.
New Hope's pastor, Joe A. Carter, who would kiss Houston's casket, laughed that while he has led the congregation for over 30 years, 鈥淪he was my pastor.鈥� Six pallbearers then carried Houston's coffin as the choir sang 鈥淗e Shall Lead His Flock.鈥�
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
