Franklin, also Whitney's godmother, cancelled her performance at the New Jersey service after suffering "terrible leg spasms". "Regretfully, I am so sorry that I was unable to be with you at Whitney's service today," the 69-year-old said in a statement. "I had every intention of being there. But unfortunately I had terrible leg spasms and locked leg muscles until 4am this morning following my concert last night (February 17), which I've been having for the last few days. "I feel it necessary and very important to stay off my leg today as much as possible until concert time this evening. My heart goes out to my dear friend Cissy, Dionne Warwick, Bobbi Kristina Brown and the rest of the family. "May God keep them all."
Proceedings in front of the star-studded audience within the church began with gospel renditions by the church choir at yesterday's funeral. Grammy Award-winning US gospel singer Donnie McClurkin opened the proceedings with a phenomenal version of his hit Stand for the assembled mourners.
Whitney's cousin Dionne Warwick introduced her friend - producer and director Tyler Perry, who gave a short speech.
He said: “I was surprised how candid and open she was. She talked about things that were tough and would talk about things that had come upon her.
“We would talk more she would go back into sadness. It was then I knew I would do all I could to stand with her and her family.
“There was a grace that carried her down through Cissy Houston and in her singing. The same grace led her to the top of the charts.
“She sold all these albums and sang for presidents and a grace kept carrying her through.
“But Whitney Houston loved the Lord. Nothing was able to separate her from the love of God. It was this same grace that carried her home.”
Gospel legend Bebe Winans - who had a number one single with I Wanna be the Only One in the UK with girl band Eternal in 1997 - struggled to maintain his composure as he told how he would miss “crazy Whitney”.He said she had a closet “as big as this church” and told a story of one of their early tours together when Whitney bought costumes for a huge cast of performers. He had the mourners in stitches as he told them: “She told me, 'You're my brother and Y'all broke, right? I'm rich right? So I can buy whatever I want for Y'all.” And he sang: “I'll miss your voice most of all... just us two, with nothing to do.” He then performed his own song I Really Miss You that he had previously written for his own brother's funeral. Ray Watson, Whitney's long-time bodyguard who discovered her body, told how the star called him “Uncle Ray”. He said: “We had some good times, she accepted me as a brother.” He told how the pair rowed over who would do the driving when Whitney refused to take a plane after a tough day's filming on 'Sparkle'. Describing her as “my precious cargo”, he said: “I was afraid of service stations and flat tyres because I knew I had someone who people loved – I told her 'stay in the car'.” He told of his horror at discovering that Whitney had passed away. He said: “I lost my friend, my boss, my sister but then her spirit came tome and said 'you're free', because for those 11 years I was by her side.” Stevie Wonder said: “This is such an emotional moment. I wanted to stop and give praise to God for allowing me to be in life at the same time as Whitney”. He told Whitney's family: “Millions of people loved her so much and that won't stop. I was so happy we were able to do a song together. “In my little fantasy world I had a little crush on Whitney. She had such love for music.” Houston's sister Patricia said the day was a day for celebration, not sadness. She added: "Today the world is celebrating the magnificent times of this woman. "Today, as a family, we celebrate the life of a sister, daughter, mother and friend. Her life was sometimes misunderstood, sometimes even by her. "While life may not always be understood, we can still give to others. When she was successful she lost some friends and gained some enemies. She just kept on giving anyway."
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