Fans are gathering in NJ to say goodbye to Houston
Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Associated Press, Newark, New Jersey | Sat, 02/18/2012 9:30 PM
Goodbye: Candles burn at a memorial to Whitney Houston outside New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J., early Saturday. Whitney Houston's funeral will take place later Saturday at the church where she sang in the choir as a girl. (AP/Mel Evans)
Pockets of fans are gathering as close as
they can get to the church where Whitney Houston's funeral will be held
in her New Jersey hometown.
Police in Newark have blocked off streets in every direction
surrounding the New Hope Baptist Church. Outside that perimeter, a few
mourners are gathering Saturday morning. They include fans who have
traveled from as far as Washington, D.C., and Miami. Some people are
setting up card tables to sell silk-screened T-shirts with Houston's
image and her CDs.
Houston, who was 48, died Feb. 11 in California, the day before the Grammy awards.
About 1,500 guests are expected to attend Saturday's private service including Aretha Franklin, Clive Davis and Stevie Wonder.
