Tributes continue to pour forth for singer Whitney Houston, who died yesterday at the age of 48. Subway riders broke into spontaneous song last night, local music writers wrote moving personal pieces, and multiple celebrities expressed their anguish on Twitter. And at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where Houston got her start singing, there have been services dedicated to the singer all day: "She was a treasure on a global scale and, on a personal note, with our church family. We’re asking everyone to pray for her family at this hour. We’re asking all to respect them at this hour of grieving," said Rev. Joe A. Carter last night.
"I haven't been a regular churchgoer, but felt I should be here today because this is a time for the community to come together," Shawn Cooper told NBC, noting the church was full Sunday morning. "The Houston family means a lot to this community, they have done a lot for this community, and being there for them is the best thing we can do as a community today." Charlene Shariff added, "There'll never be another Whitney. Everybody follows in her footsteps from her generation."
Houston was born in Newark in 1963—her family moved to a middle class area in East Orange, NJ after the 1967 Newark Riots. She attended Mount Saint Dominic Academy, a Catholic girls high school in Caldwell, NJ. Houston later bought a home in Mendham Township where she and her family lived for the better part of two decades.
Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James told the Star Ledger that many recognized Houston’s star power from an early age. As an administrator at Essex County College, James organized concerts in which Houston's mother Cissy would perform. "One night she said: ‘Could I bring out my daughter’ " James said. "She came out on that stage and she just belted. We knew from then that this unique young lady was something special."
Newark Mayor Corey Booker told The Star Ledger: "A legend has died. As the world mourns the loss of one of the all-time greats, we in Newark feel an especially deep sadness. She went from a Newark church to the global stage, but she always remained a deep part of our pride and collective heart. She will be missed. Our prayers are with her family." East Orange Mayor Robert Bowser, echoed his statements, calling Houston "a proud daughter of the city. During her extraordinary career, she brought joy into the hearts and lives of millions the world over."
Gov. Chris Christie also released a statement last night, calling her a true "Jersey girl" and a "true New Jersey treasure:" "Her soaring talent put her in the pantheon of great New Jersey musical talents like Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Bruce Springsteen," he said. "Our prayers are with her family."
