Gospel singer Marvin Winans will give the eulogy at Whitney Houston’s funeral this Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J. Whitney’s mother, Cissy Houston, requested that Marvin be the one to say a few words, reports USA Today. Marvin, a Grammy winner and musical legend in his own right, knew Whitney well and officiated her marriage to Bobby Brown in 1992. His entire family including his sister, CeCe was also close with Whitney. They recorded the song, “Count on Me,” for the 1995 movie “Waiting to Exhale.”
The entire Winans family will attend the service, and when asked if there will be any performances, he said, “Whatever Momma Houston [Cissy] wants, that’s what she’s going to get,” Marvin said, according to USA Today.
Pastor Marvin said he last saw Whitney at the end of 2011 when she was in Detroit shooting scenes for the upcoming film “Sparkle.” Marvin, who’s also a pastor at Perfecting Church in Detroit, said Whitney attended his service when she was in town last year.
As for Saturday, no wake will be held and there would be no public memorial. It’s an invitation-only funeral service headed up by Pastor Joe Carter, who knew Whitney for decades.
