Singing sensation Whitney Houston’s funeral
took place at her childhood church on Saturday in front of a star-studded
congregation. Unique Client Solutions watched the moving ceremony live on television.
Unique Client Solutions was shocked to hear
of the death of Whitney Houston a week ago. The star was found dead in the bath
of her hotel room. Exactly a week later her funeral took place at the New Hope
Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey where Whitney first sang as a child.
Over 1,500 mourners filled the church which
saw her The Bodyguard co-star, Kevin Costner, pay tribute to the “sweet
miracle” of her life. Costner spoke of the unusual similarities between their
lives, growing up in the Baptist Church, and offered many amusing anecdotes
from her childhood. Unique Client Solutions felt that of all the tributes to
Houston’s life, his was the most touching. He told the congregation, “Whitney
returns home today to the place where it all began.” He urged them to “dry our
tears, suspend our sorrow and perhaps our anger.”
Singing tributes included Stevie Wonder
singing Love’s in Need of Love Today, and Alicia Keys Send me an Angel. Unique
Client Solutions were surprised to learn that Aretha Franklin, Houston’s
godmother, had been due to sing but pulled out as she was unwell. Echoing their
turbulent marriage, ex-husband Bobby Brown stormed out of the church before the
service began apparently because of a disagreement over the size of his
entourage.
Though fans were kept away from the service
itself, many took up vigils at the edge of the police barriers. The director of
Unique Client Solutions said, “It seems a shame that fans weren’t allowed to
stand outside the church to pay their last respects. I know that many watched
it streamed live on the internet as we did at Unique Client Solutions. The news was met with great sadness by
all of us, it is always distressing to see such an incredible talent die
young.”
Whitney Houston’s songs have seen a huge
surge in sales in the week since her death. I Will Always Love You reached
number 7 in the Billboard 100 chart. Unique Client Solutions is certain that
her songs will remain popular well after her death.
