People News

Whitney Houston remembered at childhood church

Feb 13, 2012, 16:03 GMT

Whitney Houston

The pastor at Whitney Houston's former church paid tribute to the singer following her tragic death.

The 48-year-old music icon was found dead in her hotel room in Beverly Hills on Saturday (11.02.12) and Pastor Joe A. Carter remembered her during his sermon yesterday (12.02.12) at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, which she attended during her childhood.

He said: 'Our hearts are broken. How saddened we are at the death of one of the greatest voices of the modern age.

'I'll never forget her right here standing at the New Hope Church, hearing her sing, 'He Would Not Come Down', hearing her sing the praises of Jesus Christ.'

Carter asked parishioners to pray for Whitney's mother, Cissy Houston, who's still a devoted member of the church.

He said: 'We're praying for Bobbi Kristina (Whitney's daughter), her brothers and family but our hearts are focused on Dr. Emily Cissy Houston. She needs a miracle. She needs God to step in and give her strength.'

Parishioner Mary Williams, who had heard Whitney sing as a young girl, also spoke of her memories of the 'I Will Always Love You' hitmaker.

She said: 'She was just out of this world. She was younger than everyone. Her mother would put her in the choir with the adults singing and she could beat the grown-ups.

'She was just that good. It was like she was wise beyond her years.'